Protests In St. Louis Intensify

Demonstrators march in response to a not guilty verdict in the trial of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in St. Louis. Stockley was acquitted in the 2011 killing of a black man following a high-speed chase. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Demonstrators march in response to a not guilty verdict in the trial of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in St. Louis. Stockley was acquitted in the 2011 killing of a black man following a high-speed chase. Jeff Roberson/AP
Demonstrators march in response to a not guilty verdict in the trial of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in St. Louis. Stockley was acquitted in the 2011 killing of a black man following a high-speed chase. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Demonstrators march in response to a not guilty verdict in the trial of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in St. Louis. Stockley was acquitted in the 2011 killing of a black man following a high-speed chase. Jeff Roberson/AP

Protests In St. Louis Intensify

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Demonstrators turned out for the fourth day in a row in St. Louis, Missouri yesterday to rally against the acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley, who had faced first degree murder charges for the shooting death of Anthony Smith, a 24-year-old African-American man.  

Previous peaceful protests turned violent Sunday evening as a small group of demonstrators broke windows and turned over trash cans. Several people were arrested in that incident where police were heard chanting  “Whose Streets?! Our Streets.” The police department later tweeted out the names and addresses of people who they arrested.

On Monday, students gathered early in the morning at the start of the school day for a peaceful demonstration, and last night more protests took place in the Loop, a popular strip in the city.   

Amy Hunter is manager of diversity and inclusion at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.  She was active in the protests in Ferguson and has been participating in the recent rallies, and discusses the demonstrations today on The Takeaway.