Chris Hayes of All In has been johnny on the spot for several days in Ferguson, including a period where he and colleague Craig Melvin had some goodly-sized rocks hurled at them late last night - msnbc ran live courage into the wee hours.

Seriously?

I live on peaceful ground in Vermont, so it's been a matter of total cognitive dissonance to see Baghdad nightsbloom darkly in Missouri. Then this.

Yesterday, hopes were high for a Missouri demilitarized and headed back to normal. All day optimism rose … then dark fell. The Breaking News banners got virtually stuck in place from Ed Schultz and Reverend Al Sharpton, then Chris Hayes and Craig Melvin had excellent footage from Ferguson into the 2-3 a.m. hour.

From messnbc:

We are SO much a better country than this siege in Missouri indicates to the rest of the globe.
From The Kansas City Star:

FERGUSON, MO. Anger and frustration over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a police officer has been expressed through prayer vigils and peaceful protests throughout this St. Louis suburb.

During the daytime.

When the sun goes down, violence has reigned. Some fine commentary at msnbc.

It did not last. As Trymaine Lee, Amanda Sakuma, et al  reported for msnbc.

Ferguson was once again confronted with "violence and chaos" overnight.

Police fired tear gas at protesters amid the sound of explosions, shots rang out and armored police trucks sped down Florissant Avenue. At least two people, both males, were shot "in the dark of night," Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said at a press conference. Two guns and a Molotov cocktail were confiscated. There were two fires, one at a local business and another at an unoccupied residence, Johnson said. Police were hit with bottles and rocks. Thirty-one people had been arrested by 2 a.m. CT.

Johnson said police did not fire any bullets at protesters, whom he encouraged to turn out for demonstrations during the day.

"There is a dangerous dynamic in the night," Johnson said, noting that the criminal activity overnight "came from a tiny minority of law-breakers."

Among those arrested last night were Getty Images photographer Scott Olson -- the latest in a series of journalists detained by police -- who was released soon after. As Rachel noted on the show, it was another "rough night" for so many in and around Ferguson, including the First Amendment.

In a pattern that has played out night after night since 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed Aug. 9 by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, nonviolent gatherings are followed by looting and riots, tear gas and rubber bullets and dozens of arrests.

Chris Hayes and Craig Melvin got on the wrong end of some large thrown objects, the best bit of reaction was Hayes saying: "They're Angry, angry people, man!"

Attorney Eric Holder heads to Ferguson tomorrow, to lead an effort of down-simmering in accordance with the Federal and state goals of regaining order and justice in Missouri.

FERGUSON, MO.
Anger and frustration over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a police officer has been expressed through prayer vigils and peaceful protests throughout this St. Louis suburb.

During the daytime.

When the sun goes down, violence has reigned.

In a pattern that has played out night after night since 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed Aug. 9 by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, nonviolent gatherings are followed by looting and riots, tear gas and rubber bullets and dozens of arrests.

Maddow's coverage was superb. Natch. She goes straight for the journalistic jugular.