© Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFPPolice fire tear gas at demonstrators protesting the shooting of Michael Brown after they refused to honor the midnight curfew on August 17, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.
"We are trying to use the least amount of force to provide people the ability to speak while also protecting the property of the people of Ferguson," Missouri governor Jay Nixon said on Sunday in an interview on CNN.
Nixon didn't mention if authorities are planning to cancel the curfew any time soon, adding it depends on the community. "We'd like to see it ratcheted down. What we'd like to see, that will be judged by the community," he said.
Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman Justin Wheetley elaborated further, saying that officials will decide on whether to cancel the curfew on a day-by-day basis.
During the previous night, some of the most hardline protesters remained on the streets after the curfew, annoyed by what they say are the authorities' efforts to quell the protest by imposing more restrictions on residents instead of addressing the issue.
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, and arrested seven people for disobedience. One person has also been shot and critically wounded, and the shooter is still at large, police said.
© Reuters/Lucas JacksonDemonstrators stand in an overflow crowd outside of a church where civil rights leader Al Sharpton spoke with community leaders, as communities continue to react to the shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 17, 2014.
However, critics maintain police are mishandling the aftermath and refusing to hear the community's call for justice. Amnesty International also disagreed with the curfew being a viable option to ease tensions. Margaret Huang, deputy executive director of Amnesty International USA, said, "the people of Ferguson should not have their rights further restricted."
"It's hard to build trust when the governor won't meet with community members and restricts their movements with a curfew," Huang said.
The Ferguson tragedy not also triggered outrage in the town and massive vigils, but also saw thousands of people across the United States marching in solidarity with people who have been victims of police brutality.
Authorities say that the US Department of Justice is increasing its efforts in the investigation, with FBI agents questioning witnesses and an additional autopsy will be performed by a federal medical examiner.
Comment: Governor Nixon has it backwards. It's not the community that is out of control. It is the city's dehumanizing militarized police force that is on the rampage. When authorities lose their humanity in their inability to work out issues with people who are understandably outraged over police brutality and unjustified murder, they should lose their authority all together.