A judge found former officer Jason Stockley not guilty of killing Anthony
The people of St. Louis continue to make their displeasure over the Jason Stockley verdict known by shutting down a local highway Tuesday, Oct. 2. And folks are fired up over the inconvenience. Since a judge found former officer Stockley not guilty of the 2011 shooting and killing of Anthony Lamar Smith last month, protestors have been crying out against the decision.
Chants of “Who shut it down? We shut it down!” and “We don’t get no peace cause of y’all, y’all don’t get no peace cause of me” were heard throughout the peaceful protest.
Happening now at 40E & Market #stlverdict #Stockleyverdict #JasonStockley #jasonstockleyverdict #Stockley pic.twitter.com/1dfmmphGQe
— St. Louis American (@StLouisAmerican) October 4, 2017
This a new chant – 'we don't get no peace cause y'all, so y'all don't get no peace cause of me." pic.twitter.com/S4GtNbm8Oh
— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) October 4, 2017
However, many have voiced irritation over the blocked off interstate, also known as Highway 40.
Why shut down highways people trying to get home to there families causing more harm than peaceful protest
— NICKTHEFAMOUS1 (@nickthefamous) October 4, 2017
If my highway is blocked I’m automatically 100% against the protest. They solved nothing.
— Richard W Hopson Jr (@RichardWHopson) October 4, 2017
Why do they put themselves in danger and bother people who are minding their own business. This is how not to protest.
— Him?Again!??Why! (@abelyougas) October 4, 2017
But how is stopping innocent people from getting home an effective form of protest?
— AntoniaLaureceBashir (@AntoniaBashir) October 4, 2017
Several called for vehicles to run over demonstrators.
There holding up traffic dammit they should get run over
— football geek (@youngsavage818) October 4, 2017
Protestors who shut down highways deserve to get run over. There’s a time and place for it but to stop Traffic and commuters unacceptable
— Stephen Martell (@smartell87) October 4, 2017
Man I’d just run them over. Stop interrupting people’s lives. pic.twitter.com/lOx1LpzVfO
— Gunner Springfield (@joesmomlover) October 4, 2017
Despite the quiet rally, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrived on the scene and began to kettle participants and journalists alike. The officers did not use pepper spray, according to St. Louis Public Radio, however, they were dressed in riot gear.
Sgt. Brian Rossomanno told protesters who asked to leave that no order of dismissal was given, The St. Louis Dispatch reported. He told them they were under arrest for entering the interstate and in total, cops arrested 143 protesters.
