St. Louis police should be protecting
protesters,
not trampling them.
Tell the St. Louis Mayor: Call out violent police
and investigate the STL Police Department's
suppression of protest.
19/08/2017.
Dear friend,
Police are out of control in St. Louis, and the Mayor has done nothing to stop them. Over the weekend of protests following the not-guilty verdict absolving Jason Stockley of accountability in the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith, police have taunted protesters saying Ferguson-era chants like "Whose streets ? Our streets ?"1--in the same manner of neo-nazi terrorists in Charlottesville2--and police even trampled over an older woman and pepper-sprayed the people who tried to help her.3
Mayor Lyda Krewson still has not condemned the rampant excessive force police are using--and just doubled down on her support for how they are handling this situation. After the verdict came down, Krewson was quick to express her disappointment and also made a statement in support of the peaceful protest.4 But today, she released a statement condemning property damage, but not condemning the actions of police that incite riot. She even said the "root cause" of the unrest is not police--but still said we must end institutional racism.5
It's past time for Krewson to make a clear choice : either stand with and protect protesters or make excuses for the abuse of the St. Louis Police Department. That's why we're calling on her to widely condemn any use of excessive force against protesters and call a commission to investigate the actions of police during this time. She won't have a choice if enough of us join together in making the demand. Will you sign the petition ?
This weekend’s events are history repeating itself again and again since the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement. When Black people gather to demand an end to state violence, the state doubles down on the violence people were there to protest in the first place. We saw the St. Louis Police Department's militarized response to protest in Ferguson in 2014, and we're seeing it again today. St. Louis police department has one of the highest rates of police-involved killings.6 And instead of encouraging peaceful protest, St, Louis police invoked fear and provoked the confrontation. Using tear gas and riot gear, the police in St. Louis have arrested over 100 people since Friday that the police chief called “criminals.”7
In fact, the St. Louis Police Department has been overstating the supposed crime and vandalism to excuse their overly aggressive actions against mostly peaceful protests. Just yesterday, the police department tweeted a picture of a spray bottle filled with apple cider vinegar--a remedy protesters use to alleviate the symptoms of tear gas--and called it a “chemical agent” they confiscated from people trying to use it “against police officers.”8 The truth is that St. Louis police agitated protesters, and none of their actions were centered in de-escalation. They came dressed for a riot. And it’s what they got. Taunting at protesters is not how police officers should be engaging during this time.
It’s unacceptable. Mayor Krewson has said she wants to come together as a united St. Louis--and that means speaking out against behavior that seeks to divide us and push back against the change our communities need. Protest is a right that should be protected. And the actions of St. Louis police need to be investigated immediately.
Until justice is real,
Arisha, Rashad, Scott, Clarise, Anay, Malaya, Enchanta, Katrese, and the Color Of Change team.
References :
1. "St. Louis officers chant 'whose streets, our streets' while arresting protesters," Washington Post, 09-18-2017
2. "A new generation of white supremacists emerges," Louisiana Weekly, 08-21-17
3. "St. Louis cops trample, arrest woman at protest," New York Post, 09-16-2017
4. "Mayor Krewson's statement on verdict," Twitter @LydaKrewson, 09-15-2017
5. "St. Louis holds an opportunity to lead the way: My thoughts on the last few days," Twitter @LydaKrewson, 09-19-2017
6. "Letter to Mayor Krewson re: Police Conduct at Sunday Night Protest," ACLU of Missouri, 09-18-2017
7. "St. Louis protests continue, police arrest more than 100 people and vow: 'This is our city,'" Washington Post, 09-18-2017
8. "St. Louis Police Claim an 'Unknown Chemical' Labeled 'Apple Cider Vinegar' Maliciously Used Against Them," The Root, 09-19-2017
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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