Another protest is planned for Thursday evening in St. Louis, but this time, the demonstrators are expected to be largely white.
Organizers have called a ‘White Allies Only’ rally for 6.30pm at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis.
Protest organizer Cori Bush says the goal is to show that there are many white people who support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The demonstration comes as tensions in St. Louis continue to escalate following the acquittal of a white cop who killed 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith 2011
A ‘White Allies Only’ rally is set to take place at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis on Thursday
Protest organizer Cori Bush (pictured) says the rally is an anti-racist protest that is aimed at showing support for minority communities
‘I think it’s great for people to know there are white people that believe and aren’t afraid to show it, that want to tear down systemic racism,’ Bush said.
The protest is the latest of several since last Friday, when a judge acquitted former police officer Jason Stockley, who is white, in the 2011 shooting death of a black man, 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
The Thursday night protest is set to take place just blocks from Busch Stadium, where Billy Joel is scheduled to perform.
Busch Stadium officials say security plans are in place but have declined to offer specific details.
Bush declined to disclose plans for additional upcoming protests and said it was too early to say if demonstrators would show up at a Sunday appearance in St. Louis by Steve Bannon, who returned as chief of Breitbart News last month after leaving President Donald Trump’s administration.
St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson said prosecutors failed to provide evidence that conclusively proved murder beyond a reasonable doubt
Stockley killed Smith in 2011 after a police chase.
Stockley testified he shot Smith in self-defense. Prosecutors alleged that Stockley planted the gun found in Smith’s car.
Former officer Jason Stockley (pictured) was acquitted last Friday in the shooting death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith
Judge Timothy Wilson ruled prosecutors didn’t prove murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that there have been more fatal police shootings in St. Louis so far in 2017 than in any year for a decade, even with three months remaining until year’s end.
Police have fatally shot eight people so far this year, up from five in all of 2016. Police say all of those shot by officers were armed.
Lt. Col. Rochelle Jones attributed the rise in police shootings to the rise in violent crime.
But the Rev. Phillip Duvall, who has been active in recent protests, said the data suggests police are ‘not being too cautious.’
Rev. Phillip Duvall (pictured) has been active in recent protests, saying he believes police are using excessive force against the black community
Lt. Col. Rochelle Jones (pictured) attributed the rise in police shootings to the rise in violent crime