A vigil held for Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager gunned down by Ferguson, Mo., police on Saturday in disputed circumstances, turned into what the media described as a riot on Monday evening.

But while national coverage has focused on the indisputably counterproductive violence and destruction committed by Ferguson residents during a moment of anguish, videos and photos taken from the scene show local police aggravating the situation as well.

Monday's riots didn't happen in a vacuum. The Los Angeles Times reports that 48 of the department's 53 officers are white, while 65% of Ferguson is black. Racial profiling statistics from the Missouri Attorney General's office reveal the community is subject to disproportionate police action on everything from traffic stops and searches to contraband seizures and arrests.

The conflict on Monday wasn't just about Brown, but also the result of years of racial tension given a sudden shove. Likewise, tweets, videos and images from the scene on the ground demonstrate that the authorities in Ferguson did their part maintaining an atmosphere of mutual hostility.

This video caught by CNN shows a white officer telling Ferguson residents to "bring it, all you fucking animals":

Other tweets by locals demonstrate how Ferguson police resorted to heavy-handed tactics that helped escalate peaceful protests into a full-blown riot:

I saw helicopters, k9 units, and m16s long before I saw signs of looting. Riots are in response to the killing AND police invasion #Ferguson August 11, 2014

Field note: The same riot control tactics that scare people also make them a bit hysterical. August 12, 2014

Says he was walking home, trying to get to his house and cops sprayed him directly in face with gas. August 12, 2014

Meanwhile in Ferguson https://t.co/8FDdiNqWtm https://t.co/p9Xc8TuTGh

— Joshua Benton (@jbenton) August 12, 2014

Men armed with nothing but phones ordered to get on their knees. I witnessed tear gas thrown at them in #ferguson pic.twitter.com/DNOK0yRt93 August 12, 2014

Damn. Photo of @AntonioFrench in middle of the tear gas, still tweeting about what is going on in #Ferguson. Respect. pic.twitter.com/2YgFnSJouY August 12, 2014

Police saying no injuries, which is nonsense. Watched one guy - hit with rubber bullets - be carried up W. Florissant by two friends August 12, 2014

Now this. Plus noisemakers. Everybody runs. Reminds me of Cairo. pic.twitter.com/wlYijTHT66 August 12, 2014





One video shot by St. Louis alderman Antonio French appears to show him being threatened by armed police:





Others show how the anger in Ferguson stemmed from deeper issues of power and oppression, as opposed to just one incident.

Everyone I've talked to locally describes this as a breaking point, years of tension finally boiling over #Ferguson August 12, 2014

Man drives toward police line. "My hands are up don't shoot" pic.twitter.com/WGOskc2ORr August 12, 2014

Crowd is singing "fuck the police" in unison. Have been rewarded with more tear gas #Ferguson August 12, 2014

While the media is focusing on the violent actions of Monday night, Ferguson community members have also taken action in peaceful ways that aren't getting nearly as much coverage.

Community meeting sponsored by NAACP near #Ferguson. This is only the crowd *outside* the church. pic.twitter.com/SbBQ2dbL53 August 11, 2014

There's no denying that something turned ugly in Ferguson on Sunday. But what's absolutely clear is the authorities played a role in making that happen, both on the night itself and through years of racially-tinged policing.