80 held in St. Louis protests

Organizers are frustrated after demonstrations turned violent

ST. LOUIS, Missouri - Hundreds of police officers in full riot gear responded to the streets of downtown St. Louis after another day of peaceful protests over an ex-police officer's acquittal in the death of a black man gave way to property damage and dangerous encounters with officers.

Police made more than 80 arrests shortly before midnight when people ignored orders to disperse.

More protests were expected starting on Monday morning, with demonstrators planning to gather downtown.

A judge ruled on Friday that Jason Stockley, a 36-year-old who left the department and moved to Houston three years ago, was not guilty in the 2011 death of Anthony Lamar Smith. The ruling set off raucous protests throughout the weekend.

Hundreds of people marched through downtown streets, the posh Central West End and the trendy Delmar Loop area of nearby University City. Protesters also marched through two shopping malls in a wealthy area of St. Louis County.

Sunday's protest began at the police headquarters downtown. Following the same pattern of the previous days, more than 1,000 people marched peacefully for several hours. By nightfall, most had gone home. The 100 or so demonstrators who remained grew increasingly agitated as they marched toward the core of downtown. Along the way, they knocked over planters, broke windows at a few shops and hotels and scattered plastic chairs at an outdoor venue.

According to police, the demonstrators then sprayed bottles containing an unknown substance on officers.

One officer suffered a leg injury and was taken to hospital.

Soon after, buses brought in additional officers in riot gear and police continued to search downtown deep into the night, making arrests shortly before midnight when people ignored orders to disperse.

Later, officers in riot gear gathered alongside a city boulevard chanting "whose street, our street", a common refrain used by the protesters, after successfully clearing the area of demonstrators and onlookers.

Organizers said they were frustrated that a few people who have caused trouble could make it harder to spread their nonviolent message.

Representative Bruce Franks, who participated in the peaceful protests, said those who are violent "are not protesters".

Others, though, said they understood why some act out Protest organizer Anthony Bel said that while he believes change is made through peaceful protests, such as those led by Doctor Martin Luther King Jr, years of oppression has caused some to turn violent.

"I do not say the demonstrators are wrong, but I believe peaceful demonstrations are the best," Bell said.

AP - Reuters

(China Daily 09/19/2017 page12)