As Twitchy reported, the Don’t Shoot Coalition in early November presented area law enforcement with its 19-point list of “rules of engagement” with the police, including 48 hours notice in advance of the announcement of the Darren Wilson grand jury decision.
Yesterday, a group of black aldermen (specifically, the St. Louis African American Aldermanic Caucus) endorsed the entire list of demands and suggestions and encouraged the St. Louis Police Department and mayor’s office to “do all they can to observe these proposed rules.”
Black aldermen today requested @MayorSlay and @ChiefSLMPD honor the "rules of engagement" requested by protestors: pic.twitter.com/ASR5fVm0Xj
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) November 18, 2014
Today, Mayor Slay responded to the board of aldermen. MSNBC’s Trymaine Lee reports:
In letter to Aldermen STL Mayor Francis Slay says he is requesting 400 Nat. Guard to city, split in two 12-hour shifts following gj decision
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) November 19, 2014
Slay says the 400 guardsmen will be dispatched to 45 locations w/cops, away from protests to protect against spontaneous crime, looting, etc
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) November 19, 2014
Slay says:"I am absolutely convinced that the leaders of… and the vast majority of demonstrators themselves are committed to non-violence"
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) November 19, 2014
And that "I feel the exact same way and just as strongly about our police department and individual officers."
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) November 19, 2014
Mayor Slay in his letter also address Hands Up coalitions 19 proposed rules of engagement, including safe spaces, police in riot gear, etc.
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) November 19, 2014
About those rules? The mayor’s office seems fine with most of them.
.@MayorSlay says the two sides have agreed to abide by about half of the 19 proposed "rules of engagement." http://t.co/3TVl1HzlGN
— Rachel Lippmann (@rlippmann) November 18, 2014
For example, Slay wrote that “we will honor safe houses, and will consider churches to be sanctuaries.” Protesters had demanded the establishment of protester safe houses that “shall be considered sacred ground and only entered by police when called upon on when extremely necessary.”
Slay also told aldermen that “we do not want to appear to militarize our response … so our officers will start by wearing their normal uniforms.” The mayor had no specific response to the demand that police be more tolerant of “more minor lawbreaking (such as thrown water bottles).”
Slay also conceded to the allowance of protesters to occupy public spaces on a case-by-case basis, specifically citing the blocking of intersections and obstruction of traffic that occurred over the weekend.
Oddly, there’s a “fireside chat” being held tomorrow but not by the mayor; people are invited to call in and interact directly with a panel of protesters.
Yes, there's a #FergusonFireside National Call with Protestors tomorrow. Wednesday. 8pm CST. http://t.co/pNSnSWUzyA. #Ferguson
— deray (@deray) November 19, 2014
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