2017 St. Louis protests

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Roughly 200-300 demonstrators assembled in downtown St. Louis near the city courthouse.{{Cite news|date=September 15, 2017|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2017/09/15/stockley-protesters-march-through-central-west-end|title=Police Teargas Protesters in the Central West End After Vandalism to Mayor's Home|last=Staff|first=Riverfront Times|work=Riverfront Times|access-date=September 24, 2017|language=en}} The protests were mostly peaceful. Police used pepper spray to drive back protesters on at least two occasions: after protesters responded angrily to the approach of buses filled with police in tactical armor (riot gear), and after individuals mounted an abandoned police vehicle and damaged its windshield.{{cite web|date=September 15, 2017|url=http://fox2now.com/2017/09/15/police-use-mace-in-confrontation-with-protesters-in-downtown-st-louis/|title=Police use mace in confrontation with protesters in downtown St. Louis|website=FOX2now.com|access-date=September 16, 2017}}

Demonstrations later moved to the Central West End neighborhood, where they swelled to over 1,000 people. They were peaceful until about 9:45 pm, after protesters made their way to the home of mayor Lyda Krewson. Despite urgings from demonstration leaders, at least one protester put a rock through the mayor's window. The mayor is believed not to have been home. Although most demonstrators dispersed immediately, police deployed pepper spray and tear gas, driving back remaining demonstrators and onlookers through the Central West End's commercial area. There, angered protesters damaged several businesses.

A total of 33 people, 32 of whom were local, were arrested and charged with crimes ranging from peace disturbance to destruction of property.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=saturday+st+louis+arrests+33|title=saturday st louis arrests 33 - Google Search|website=www.Google.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} The US Justice Department announced that no federal investigation will take place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/doj-shifts-from-collaborative-reform-doctrine-toward-trumps-law-and-order-mandate/article_c3b1daa7-7dbb-5607-82d8-55ff0660460d.html|title=DOJ shifts from 'collaborative reform' doctrine toward Trump's law-and-order mandate|first=Chuck|last=Raasch|website=STLtoday.com}}

On the afternoon of September 16, protesters marched through a shopping center in the St. Louis suburb of Des Peres and blocked a road.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/jason-stockley-second-day-night-protests-turn-violent-heres-all-you-need-know-666494|title=St Louis sees second night of rioting after Jason Stockley verdict|date=September 17, 2017|website=Newsweek.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} As the sun set a peaceful march made its way through the St. Louis suburb of University City. As night fell, however, demonstrators threw projectiles at police and smashed storefront windows as police drove them down Delmar Boulevard. 23 businesses and a police vehicle were damaged.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-jason-stockley-lamar-smith-protests-20170916-story.html|title=St. Louis protesters march in upscale malls, suburbs during day; evening turns violent|first=Jim Salter and Summer|last=Ballentine|date=September 16, 2017|website=ChicagoTribune.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} Police made nine arrests.

About 1,000 people protested outside police headquarters in downtown St. Louis. The event was peaceful until a small group of protesters started smashing the windows of a Marriott hotel and other businesses. Police arrested 123 people.{{cite web|title=Protesters break windows downtown; at least 7 taken into custody|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/protesters-break-windows-downtown-after-protest-at-st-louis-police/article_ebf53117-0396-515c-a6c2-84d50c6bbdfc.html|website=stltoday.com|publisher=STL Today|access-date=September 17, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/123-people-arrested-st-louis-3rd-night-protests/story?id=49922449|title=123 arrested in St. Louis in 3rd night of protests over ex-cop's acquittal|date=20 September 2017|website=ABC News|access-date=October 4, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/arrested-in-third-day-of-protests-st-louis-police-report/article_ceca9b03-2ca9-5e84-b93d-675fda0ae736.html|title=Protesters gather at city jail as police confirm 123 arrests from Sunday|author=Staff reports|website=StLToday.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} Police also said unknown chemical substances were thrown at them and that an officer on bike was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.{{cite web|last1=Stelloh|first1=Tim|title=More Violence Marks Protests in St. Louis Over Ex-Officer's Acquittal|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/more-violence-marks-protests-st-louis-over-ex-officer-s-n802206 |work=NBC News|publisher=NBC|access-date=September 18, 2017}} Among those arrested included an undercover St. Louis police officer, a Getty Images photojournalist, and an Air Force lieutenant.{{cite web |last1=Kohler |first1=Jeremy |last2=Byers |first2=Christine |last3=Heffernan |first3=Erin |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/undercover-cop-air-force-officer-med-student-among-those-police/article_e2dcc3de-f228-5311-a35f-e60e1bd9ebee.html |title=Undercover cop, Air Force officer, med student among those police swept up Sunday night |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 23, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2017}}

Protestors gathered outside the downtown St. Louis jail.{{cite web|url=http://www.newser.com/story/248839/protesters-gather-outside-downtown-st-louis-jail.html|title=Protesters Gather Outside Downtown St. Louis Jail|first=Rob|last=Quinn|date=September 18, 2017|website=Newser.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}}

Police in Richmond Heights shut down the St. Louis Galleria after a group of protesters blocked the intersection of Brentwood Boulevard and Galleria Parkway.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/protesters-block-brentwood-boulevard-near-galleria/article_2fa7d3c3-7fc5-57f8-af62-2dac1b038b83.html|title=Protesters block Brentwood Boulevard near Galleria|author=Staff reports|website=StLToday.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} Protests started outside Busch Stadium in downtown St Louis, as a Billy Joel concert took place.{{cite web|url=http://fox2now.com/2017/09/21/white-allies-only-rally-planned-in-st-louis/|title='White Allies Only' rally planned in St. Louis|date=September 21, 2017|website=Fox2Now.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}}

Protesters marched through the Saint Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights before St. Louis County Police said it ordered the demonstrators to disperse. Police made 22 arrests. One officer and two protesters were injured during the incident. Some protesters alleged that the police did not give the dispersal order.{{cite web|last1=Fenske|first1=Sarah|title=County Police Shut Down Protest at St. Louis Galleria |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2017/09/23/county-police-shut-down-protest-at-st-louis-galleria |work=The Riverfront Times |date=September 23, 2017 |access-date=September 23, 2017}}

A group of protesters attending a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium unfurled a banner which depicted a cardinal, to match St. Louis' baseball mascot, with #ExpectUs written across the bird's jersey and the bird holding a "Black Lives Matter" sign, and read at the bottom "Stop Killing Us."{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2017/9/29/16388812/busch-stadium-cardinals-protest-stockley-verdict|title=Demonstrators unfurl banner at Busch Stadium protesting Stockley verdict|date=September 29, 2017|website=SBNation.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} The protesters were removed from the stadium by police.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/protesters-unfurl-banner-in-busch-stadium-during-cardinals-brewers-game/article_9952fd93-a08a-58ae-a2dd-105911f43945.html|title=Protester tased, others pepper-sprayed downtown; banner unfurled at Cardinals-Brewers game|first=Kevin|last=McDermott|website=StLToday.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} At least two protesters were arrested as ongoing demonstrations outside Busch Stadium continued as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.kmov.com/story/36490788/protesters-gather-outside-busch-stadium-at-least-two-arrested|title=Protesters gather outside Busch Stadium, at least two arrested|first=Emily Van de|last=Riet|website=KMOV.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}}

Protesters returned to the St Louis Galleria, though only briefly,{{Cite web|url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2017-09-30/protesters-return-to-galleria-mall-a-week-after-mass-arrests-to-make-determined-statement|title=Protesters return to Galleria mall a week after mass arrests to make determined statement|date=October 1, 2017|website=St. Louis Public Radio}} and chanted "Black lives matter" and "If we don't get it, shut it down!" while marching through the mall. They also addressed shoppers and onlookers.

143 were arrested after a group of protesters blocked and briefly closed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 at Kingshighway.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/mass-arrests-made-after-protesters-briefly-close-highway-in-st/article_be681e7d-db87-5754-8799-12406397ccb0.html|title=Protesters arrested after blocking Highway 40 include pastor, state rep|first=Nassim|last=Benchaabane|website=StLToday.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} This marks the highest total number of arrests in one night since the protests began.

On this day,{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/after-st-louis-mayor-asks-for-probe-into-protest-response-u-s-attorney-sends-request/article_2ff29678-5cce-5db2-b4e0-3ac8631dcbe8.html|title=After St. Louis mayor asks for probe into protest response, U.S. attorney sends request to Washington|first=Robert|last=Patrick|website=STLtoday.com}} and made public October 6, local U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin sent a letter to US Justice Department's Civil Rights Division asking to implement a request by St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and Interim Police Commissioner Lawrence M. O'Toole for an independent federal investigation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/oct/06/st-louis-police-investigation-request-goes-to-wash/|title=St. Louis police investigation request goes to Washington {{pipe}} The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com}}

A group of protestors blocked traffic at Hampton Avenue and Chippewa Street on Thursday evening before marching to the nearby St. Louis Police Officers Association and calling for its spokesman to be fired.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/protesters-briefly-block-south-st-louis-intersection-call-for-firing-of-police-association-spokesman/article_27c0b28d-7bb2-569d-aead-97b7ecb240f3.html|title=Protesters briefly block south St. Louis intersection, call for firing of police association spokesman|first=Nassim|last=Benchaabane|website=STLtoday.com}}

Protests returned to the nearby city of Ferguson three years after the shooting of Michael Brown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/protesters-march-on-street-at-police-headquarters-in-ferguson/article_7a04468c-30f1-5d4b-928b-cbb933dc4a9f.html|title=Protesters march on street, at police headquarters in Ferguson|first=Nassim|last=Benchaabane|website=STLtoday.com}} The Ferguson protesters first stopped outside the Ferguson Market, where Brown had a run-in with the store owner before he was stopped by the officer who later shot him, and later moved to the Ferguson police headquarters on South Florissant Road. A video of Ferguson protestors carrying Black Lives Matter signs and standing around the burning flag while repeatedly chanting "we can't take it no more" is also leaking online as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/ferguson-protesters-march-over-police-officers-murder-acquittal-680182|title=Ferguson protestors burn American flag during protests|date=October 7, 2017|website=Newsweek}}

More Ferguson protests take place and 5 out of 50 protesters are arrested for refusing to obey two or three police warnings to leave the street in front the police headquarters and move onto the sidewalk 40 minutes after protests begin at night.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/downtown-protests-are-peaceful-the-day-after-5-arrested-in-ferguson/article_57f5bff1-27f7-51c3-9146-a3899886bef2.html|title=Downtown protests are peaceful the day after 5 arrested in Ferguson|first=Nassim|last=Benchaabane|website=STLtoday.com}}

200 peaceful protestors march through the streets of downtown St. Louis in the afternoon.

Protesters accompany State Representative Bruce Franks to the AFL–CIO Convention in downtown St. Louis. The convention center staff refused entry to the demonstrators, including Rep. Franks, who was scheduled to speak. Trade unionists attending the conference joined the demonstration and demanded that all protesters be given entry.

Seven protestors, including Franks, were arrested following an attempt to disrupt Black Friday sales at the St. Louis Galleria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/black-friday-protests-at-the-st-louis-galleria-lead-to-7-arrests/article_41c18a2b-9c2a-59d3-9fd6-211cd5d055bd.html|title=Black Friday protests at the St. Louis Galleria lead to 7 arrests|first=Denise Hollinshed, Robert|last=Cohen|website=STLtoday.com}} About 50 protesters arrived shortly after 2 p.m., forcing the mall to close for less than an hour at 2:40 p.m. The mall reopened 3:20 p.m. after most protestors had left the vicinity.

Acting Police Commissioner Lawrence O'Toole spoke about the protests in a video statement with Mayor Lyda Krewson. He stated, "Many of the demonstrators were peaceful. However, after dark, many agitators began to destroy property and assault police officers."{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4944795/st-louis-protests-jason-stockley-anthony-lamar-smith/|title=Multiple St. Louis Officers Injured and Mayor's Home Damaged After Protests|first=Aric|last=Jenkins|magazine=Time|date=16 September 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2017}} The mayor herself earlier stated, "I am sobered by this outcome. Frustration, anger, hurt, pain, hope and love all intermingle. I encourage St. Louisans to show each other compassion, to recognize that we all have different experiences and backgrounds and that we all come to this with real feelings and experiences."{{cite web|url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timothymeads/2017/09/16/terrorrist-arrested-n2382416|title=Violent Rioters are attacking police, the mayor, and even reporters in St. Louis|first=Timothy|last=Meads|date=September 16, 2017|website=TownHall.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} Missouri Governor Eric Greitens warned protesters they could be arrested for property damage if further violence occurred. He issued a strong condemnation Saturday night in a Facebook post stating, "In the past, our leaders let people break windows, loot, start fires. They let them do it. Not this time. Tonight, the police arrested the vandals. At this moment, they're all sitting in a jail cell. They're gonna wake up and face felony charges. These aren't protesters, these are criminals. We had leaders who wanted to give people a safe space to loot and to burn. Now in Missouri if you loot the only safe space you're going to have is in a jail cell."

Irish rock band U2 as well as singer Ed Sheeran cancelled concerts in St. Louis due to the unrest.{{cite web|url=http://buzz.blog.ajc.com/2017/09/16/u2-cancels-st-louis-concert-after-friday-night-riots/|title=U2 cancels St. Louis concert after Friday night riots - Atlanta Buzz with Jennifer Brett|date=September 16, 2017|website=AJC.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/ed-sheeran-st-louis-concert-canceled-1202561514/|title=Ed Sheeran Cancels St. Louis Concert Amid Protests Over Police Acquittal|first=Seth|last=Kelley|date=September 17, 2017|website=Variety.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} The St. Louis Walk to End Alzheimer's, the Shakespeare Festival's performance of 'Blow, Winds', the Cardinals Care 6K Walk/Run, Mike Birbiglia's stand-up performance at The Pageant, the Missouri History Museum's Twilight Tuesday concert series, the School of Rock show at Delmar Hall, and the St. Louis Symphony's performance of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - In Concert were all cancelled due to the protests as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.kmov.com/story/36371896/friday-weekend-closures-and-cancellations-amid-upcoming-stockley-verdict|title=List of events canceled amid protests|website=KMOV.com|access-date=October 4, 2017}} PeaceFest at the Harris-Stowe State University campus, The Mission: St. Louis gala at Ballpark Village, the 45th Annual Moonlight Ramble and the opening of the St Louis Science Center's exhibit "Science Uncorked" were all also postponed.

On September 22, 2017, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the city of St. Louis over its treatment of the protesters.{{cite web |last=Salter |first=Jim |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/aclu-sues-st-louis-treatment-protesters-50035010 |title=ACLU sues St. Louis over treatment of protesters |work=ABC News |access-date=September 23, 2017 |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite web | last=Maheela | first=Ahmad | url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/aclu-lawsuit-over-police-conduct/pdf_b5ff3d9b-35ab-5b4a-a0c6-a5b1f4df87cd.html | title=ACLU lawsuit over police conduct | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | access-date=August 2, 2018 | agency=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}

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2017 St. Louis protests