Protesters chanting “free our people” gathered outside the jail in downtown St. Louis on Monday night to show solidarity with those who remain behind bars. Police said that more than 120 people were arrested during Sunday’s protests.
Demonstrators outside the jail criticized authorities for keeping some of those arrested in jail nearly 24 hours after they were taken into custody. One organizer said over a megaphone that the protesters were prepared to “occupy” the facility. Monday was the fourth day of protests over the acquittal of a white former police officer in the killing of 24 year old Anthony Lamar Smith.
In the morning, a racially mixed crowd of demonstrators marched through downtown. Protesters chanting “free our people” gathered outside the jail in downtown St. Louis on Monday night to show solidarity with those who remain behind bars. Smith’s mother, Anne Smith, was among those gathered outside the downtown jail.
Stockley shot Smith after high-speed chase as officers tried to arrest Smith and his partner in a suspected drug deal. Stockley, 36, testified he felt endangered because he saw Smith holding a silver revolver when Smith backed his car toward the officers and sped away. Prosecutors said Stockley planted a gun in Smith’s car after the shooting. The officer’s DNA was on the weapon but Smith’s wasn’t. Dashcam video from Stockley’s cruiser recorded him saying he was “going to kill this (expletive).” Less than a minute later, he shot Smith five times.
