St Louis has entered its third consecutive night of protests over Friday’s acquittal of Jason Stockley, the white cop accused of murder in the 2011 shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith.
As of 6:20pm, protesters were walking across the city, slowing traffic, in what police said was a peaceful – but disruptive – procession.
Similar protests had taken place on Saturday night, but after those peaceful walks ended at 9pm, a second group of protesters amassed in University City and began attacking police with rock and smashing shopfront windows.
Nine people were arrested, four of them juveniles – and on Sunday, police released the identities of the five arrested adults.
Early Sunday evening, protesters (pictured) gathered outside the St Louis Police Department headquarters, holding Black Lives Matter signs and American flags
Once outside the St Louis Police Department headquarters, many demonstrators participated in a ‘die-in’, lying on the ground to protest ex-cop Jason Stockley’s Friday acquittal in the 2011 shooting of black man Anthony Lamar Smith
Sunday’s protest (pictured) was the third consecutive day of action after the verdict was delivered. The judge said there was no evidence Stockley had unlawfully shot Smith or planted a gun on him, despite claims by the prosecution
The other two adults arrested were (l-r) Edward Stewart and Caryn Pierson. Charges for all five range from rioting to property damage. Protesters were furious over Stockley’s acquittal after charges he murdered Smith and planted a gun on him
Early Sunday evening, prior to their march through traffic, protesters had held a ‘die-in’ rally outside police headquarters, in which they laid across the ground, pretending to be dead.
Authorities had closed off several blocks around the police headquarters Sunday afternoon in anticipation of the demonstration, which included young children and teenagers, as well as adults.
The crowd also observed six minutes of silence in front of the police department building, then chanted ‘stop killing us’ as officers looked on from the headquarters’ windows.
Afterward, they resumed the large-scale marching, chanting slogans such as ‘this is what democracy looks like.’
Protesters said that the six-minute silence symbolized the six years between the Smith’s death and Stockley’s acquittal.
The five adults named by police as suspects in Saturday’s riot were Caryn Pierson, Edward Stewart, Tristan Muir, Lakeshia Starks and Lamont Davis. Three of them live in St Louis; one in the surrounding county; and the fifth in Freeburg, Illinois.
Pierson was charged with first-degree property damage and rioting, and jailed on a $20,000 bond. Stewart was charged with unlawful assembly and resisting arrest and jailed on a $10,000 bond.
Muir was charged with rioting and fourth-degree assault; he was jailed on a $10,000 bond. Starks was charged with first-degree property damage, rioting, and resisting arrest and jailed on a $20,000 bond. And Davis was charged with first-degree property damage and jailed on a $20,000 bond.
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens issued a warning Sunday on Facebook that anyone caught destroying property would be held accountable and could face felony charges.
‘Saturday night, some criminals decided to pick up rocks and break windows. They thought they’d get away with it. They were wrong. Our officers caught ’em, cuffed ’em, and threw ’em in jail,’ the first-term Republican governor wrote.
Demonstrators chant outside police headquarters in St Louis. Many Black Lives Matter placards could be seen among the crowds as they peacefully protested
A protester is seen being arrested in St Louis following riots on Saturday night, which saw dozens of shopfronts smashed. The violence broke out after a peaceful protest concluded earlier Saturday
Police haul off a protester as they break up the violent crowd on Saturday. A protester had thrown red paint onto the riot shield seen here. Rocks and chunks of concrete were also thrown at cops, who responded with tear gas
Stockley (left) was aquitted on Friday in the 2011 death of Smith (right, with his daughter). Smith had been shot after a high-speed chase. Stockley had an AK-47 on his rear seat – something he defended on Saturday
Ed Sheeran’s Sunday concert at the Scott Trade Center was canceled on Saturday by Messina Touring Group on the venue’s website.
THE JUDGE WHO DECIDED THE CASE
St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson
The judge who acquitted Stockley is described as objective and well-respected by prosecutors and defense lawyers alike.
St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson, who must retire when he turns 70 in December, has ruled both for and against police during his 28 years on the bench.
‘He’s very methodical and a very objective judge,’ Jack Garvey, a lawyer and former judge told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
‘He really will review everything before he makes a decision. I don’t think he’s ideological in any way.’
People accused of crimes have the right to have their cases heard by a jury, but can opt to have the verdict rendered by a judge instead, as Stockley chose to do.
Experts say a judge is more likely to understand the concept of reasonable doubt and not be swayed by emotions.
‘With the safety of the fans being of upmost concern, and after consulting with local officials, who could not fully commit to providing a sufficient amount of police and other city services support, we felt it was in everyone’s best interest to cancel Sunday night’s show,’ it read.
‘While we regret to have had to come to this decision, we do look forward to returning to St Louis as soon as Ed’s schedule will allow in 2018.’
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, which had canceled its Saturday and Sunday performances of the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets scores, went ahead with its performance on Sundauy.
However, the orchestra is giving refunds on its website to those who were unable to attend due to the protests.
It also promised refunds to those who had tickets to the canceled Friday and Saturday events.
Rock band U2 also canceled a performance due to protests, saying their Saturday gig could not go ahead as ‘local crowd security personnel would not be at full capacity,’ and that they ‘cannot in good conscience risk our fans’ safety.’
Ticketholders will be able to claim a refund online or at their place of purchase, they added.
Saturday’s confrontation took place in an area that includes the Blueberry Hill club, where rock legend Chuck Berry played for many years.
There had been a peaceful march in the area earlier in the evening that ended with organizers calling for people to leave and reconvene Sunday afternoon.
But a few dozen protesters refused to go. Police ordered them to disperse, saying the protest was illegal. Hundreds of officers in riot gear eventually moved in with armored vehicles.
The demonstrators retreated down a street, breaking windows with trash cans and throwing objects at police.
Several protesters were taken away in handcuffs, including a man who was carried off upside down. At least one demonstrator was treated after he was hit with pepper spray.
Sam Thomas, who was helping his friend clean up the glass from the shattered windows of his clothing and accessories boutique, OSO, said he understood why people were angry. The US justice system is broken and needs to be fixed, he said.
‘I’m not saying this is the right way to fix it,’ he said of the damage. ‘The window isn’t murdered. Nobody is going to have a funeral for the window. We can replace it.’
Demonstrations began peacefully on Friday after Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson acquitted former St Louis police officer Stockley, 36, of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of Smith, 24.
Protesters later clashed with police, and 33 people were arrested and 10 officers injured by early Saturday morning. Police said protesters also damaged Mayor Lyda Krewson’s home.
Police are seen here with two people – one of them unconscious after an asthma attack – during the riots. Protests continued on Sunday, but remained peaceful as of the early evening
Smith was shot in his car after Stockley and his partner chased him following an alleged drug deal, authorities said. Prosecutors argued that Stockley planted a weapon in Smith’s car.
Stockley left the St Louis Metropolitan Police Department in 2013. Smith’s family settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the city for $900,000 in 2013.
An informal group of St Louis-based activists known as the Ferguson frontline have organized the protests.
The group has focused on what it describes as institutional racism since rioting erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, a St Louis suburb, after a white police officer, Darren Wilson, shot black teenager Michael Brown in 2014.
A grand jury decided not to charge Wilson, and the US Justice Department declined to bring any charges of civil rights violations against him.
Brown’s death triggered sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and around the United States, fueled by police killings of unarmed black men in other cities.
It also helped spark debate about racial bias in the US justice system.
‘I DID NOTHING WRONG’: COP DEFENDS HIMSELF AFTER ACQUITTAL
After his acquittal on Friday, Jason Stockley took part in a sit-down interview with The St Louis Dispatch where he continued to defend his actions in December 2011.
‘I did not murder Anthony Lamar Smith. I did not plant a gun.
‘I can feel for and I understand what the family is going through, and I know everyone wants someone to blame, but I’m just not the guy,’ he said.
Critics are convinced he shot Smith six times with his own weapon then placed another in Smith’s car to make it appear he had been armed.
The gun had none of Smith’s DNA on it but it had traces of Stockley’s.
Speaking of his acquittal, Stockley said he felt as though a ‘burden had been lifted’.
‘The taking of a life is the most significant thing that one can do, and it’s not something that is done lightly and it’s not something that should ever be celebrated.
‘And it’s just a horrible experience altogether. But, sometimes, it’s necessary.’