Protesters demonstrating in the streets of downtown St. Louis, Missouri, have remained “largely peaceful,” but mace has been deployed after rocks and water bottles being thrown threatened the legality of the gathering, according to police.
Southbound Kingshighway from Lindell Boulevard, south of Interstate-40 has closed, causing traffic delays, according to the St. Louis Police Department.
Southbound Kingshighway from Lindell to south of I-40 is closed due to demonstrators. Motorists will experience delays in area. #STLVerdict
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 16, 2017
Thirteen people have been arrested during Friday’s protest, the police said. In the late afternoon, some groups of marchers were heard chanting “we shut s*** down” and “these killer cops have got to go.”
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The department tweeted a video showing protesters jumping on a police SUV. A child was also seen being led up onto the hood of the vehicle and encouraged to dance on it.
Demonstrators could be seen standing in an intersection near the courthouse where Officer Jason Stockley was acquitted on first-degree murder charges on Friday.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and Interim Police Chief Lawrence M. O’Toole answered questions about the demonstrations during a news conference.
When asked about how she intended to handle the protests as the day went on, Krewson said authorities will try and “Keep everything as peaceful as possible.”
O’Toole responded to a question asking if he was fearful Friday’s protests would be anything like the 2014 Ferguson demonstrations as the day comes to an end.
“Of course that’s our fear,” O’Toole said. He continued by mentioning that four officers have been assaulted already during Friday’s protest.
O’Toole also stated that one officer was knocked off of his bike and another was pinned down on his bike by protesters. Police deployed mace in the direction of the protesters after a water bottle struck an officer.
Two protesters seen with rifles in hand were exercising their state-sanctioned open carry rights, Kevin Killeen of KMOX reported. One of the men held his gun while sporting a kevlar vest as he talked to police during the demonstrations on Friday, according to Jesse Bogan of the St. Louis Dispatch.
A local pizza shop took precautions due to the protests and boarded up its windows.
