Americans disunited across the states at Thanksgiving

Los Angeles police faced off against protesters before making many arrests as trouble at the Michael Brown verdict sparked across the US. Credit: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Across America tonight families and friends are gathering for the annual Thanksgiving holiday - but despite the image of togetherness, the country remains a society with deep-rooted racial problems.

It was hoped that Barack Obama's election as the nation's first black president would help defuse the tensions.

But that is now in doubt after days of violence and protests caused by the decision not to prosecute white police officer Darren Wilson, who shot dead black teenager Michael Brown.

Monday's grand jury decision over the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, has had repercussions across the nation, with arrests in cities across the 50 states.

ITV News Senior Correspondent Emma Murphy reports from New York.