The August 9 killing of Michael Brown — and the days of protests and police presence that followed it — transformed Ferguson, Missouri from a quiet, peaceful suburb into a flashpoint for the country's racial tensions. It also turned the lives of local children upside down. Kids and families were a regular presence at Ferguson's daily rallies - with some also getting caught in the middle of clashes with police. As protesters were met by SWAT teams in riot gear — with tear gas, stun grenades, and road blockades — Ferguson's youngest were exposed to chaos and violence that, parents and community leaders say, will have a lasting impact on them. With local schools closed because of the protests, many children in Ferguson got an extra week off this summer - but it was a week filled with confusion and fear.VICE News spent an afternoon with a group of them, eating ice cream and talking about being a kid in the neighborhood during the events of the past two weeks.Subscribe to VICE NewsFollow VICE News on TwitterLike VICE News on Facebook
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