Ferguson Developments

President Obama called Monday for $75 million in federal spending to get 50,000 more police to wear body cameras that record their interactions with civilians.

The president made the announcement during a series of meetings with his cabinet, civil rights leaders, law enforcement officials, and others following a grand jury's decision last week not to charge the police offer who fatally shot unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Elsewhere, some Americans walked off the job or out of school in support of the Ferguson protests. Here's a look at the latest developments:

Presidential Action

Obama proposed a three-year $263 million spending package to increase use of body cameras, expand training for law enforcement, and add more resources for police reform. The package includes $75 million for the small, lapel-mounted cameras to record officers on the job.

The White House has said the cameras could help bridge deep mistrust between law enforcement and the public. It could also help resolve the types of disputes between police and witnesses that arose in the Ferguson shooting.

However, Obama is not seeking to pull back federal programs that provide military-style equipment to local law enforcement. He had ordered a review of those programs after critics questioned why police in full body armor with armored trucks responded.

to dispel demonstrators.

Walkout Protest

As part of a national protest, people walked off their jobs or out of school holding their hands up in a show of solidarity with Ferguson protesters.

Monday's walkouts stretched from New York to San Francisco, and included Chicago and Washington, D.C. At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, three dozen students rallied outside the library and walked out of class.

The protest came a day after five players for the St. Louis Rams entered the football field with their hands raised. The St. Louis Police Officers Association called for them to be disciplined and for the NFL to apologize.

An NFL spokesman said the league respects "the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation."                - AP

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