Marchers peaceful after violence
80 arrested Sunday night in rallies over police shooting
USA TODAY Network ST. LOUIS More than 100 protesters peacefully marched arm-in-arm Monday to City Hall, hours after a third night of violence resulted in 80 more arrests following the acquittal of a white police officer in the fatal shooting of a black motorist.
The protesters marched through the streets for about an hour before clearing the area. Police escorted the group while stopping and rerouting traffic.
“This morning, officers monitored a peaceful protest as they marched through Downtown #STL,” city police tweeted. “No arrests or incidents.”
If the pattern holds, however, Monday night could see more chaos. Earlier Monday, Mayor Lyda Krewson said the vast majority of protesters continue to be nonviolent. She said a peaceful protest had wrapped up Sunday when “agitators” became destructive.
“A group of agitators stayed behind, apparently intent on destroying property,” she said. “It is not acceptable.”
Some protesters became upset Sunday night after an unmarked police vehicle backed quickly through the crowd. Police, who said some bottles were thrown at officers after the incident, told the St. Louis PostDispatch that the car had to back through the crowd because of road closures.
It was not clear how much of the violence was sparked by that incident. Anthony Bell, one of the organizers of the protests, blamed the unrest on years of discrimination and oppression.
“I do not say the demonstrators are wrong, but I believe peaceful demonstrations are the best,” Bell said.
When the streets had finally calmed early Monday, interim police Chief Lawrence O’Toole said more than 80 arrests had been made and five weapons confiscated. He said several officers suffered minor or moderate injuries, and all would soon return to work.
As the streets quieted, some protesters and Post-Dispatch reporters said they heard officers chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” — a phrase often chanted by protest marchers.
“I’m proud to tell you the city of St. Louis is safe, and police own the night,” O’Toole said. “We are in control of this city, and we are going to protect it.”
Earlier Sunday, hundreds of protesters marched in a third consecutive day of demonstrations since a judge acquitted former St. Louis police Officer Jason Stockley of first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith, 24.
Stockley, 36, shot Smith in 2011 while officers were attempting to arrest him and another man accused of involvement in a drug deal. Stockley testified at his trial that he felt threatened because Smith was holding a gun.
Prosecutors claimed Stockley planted the gun. Stockley’s dashcam video, recorded seconds before the shooting, also showed him saying he was “going to kill this (expletive).”