Missouri lt. gov.: We need 'Anglo-American' justice in Ferguson, not racial protests

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R) on Tuesday called for Gov. Jay Nixon (D) to reinstate the curfew in Ferguson to allow the justice system -- which he said was a product of "Anglo-American civilization" -- to do its job.

Following Monday night's clashes with police in the wake of the death of slain teen Michael Brown, Kindler told MSNBC's Ronan Farrow that Nixon had been wrong to end the curfew in Ferguson.

"I don't understand an argument for not reinstating it," he insisted. "I don't understand that. I'm not trying to be overtly political. I am saying, the people of Ferguson, the people of the state of Missouri are crying out for leadership."

Before Farrow ended the interview, he asked the lieutenant governor if he agreed with Ferguson Mayor James Knowles that "the perspective of all residents" was that there was no "racial divide" in the city.

Kinder said there was "no question" that race was playing a role in what was happening in Ferguson.

"We do not do justice in America in the streets though," he argued. "We have legal processes that are set in motion, that are designed after centuries of Anglo-American jurisprudence tradition, they're designed to protect the rights and liberties of everyone involved."

"That includes the Brown family, for justice for them and for the community. It also includes the officer who has not yet been charged," he added. "Our constitutional and our Bill of Rights protections have to be followed here, and we do not do justice in the streets."

"That's one of the great advances of Anglo-American civilization, is that that we do not have politicized trials. We let the justice system work it out."

Watch the video below from MSNBC, broadcast Aug. 19, 2014.

(h/t: Husani Oakley)