The recent acquittal of former St. Louis police officer James Stockley in the 2011 shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith was instrumental in inspiring many football players, from entire NFL teams to teams of 8-year-olds, to take a knee during the national anthem.
Smith has since been honored by the City of St. Louis, but that hasn’t stopped the protests that have been happening continually since mid-September. As Twitchy reported, demonstrators have accused police of attempted murder for backing down a street crowded with protesters, and now faith leaders and politicians are accusing cops of “terrorism” after they broke up a protest at a suburban mall Saturday night, arresting nearly two-dozen.
Galleria protest ends with injuries & arrests https://t.co/DSWk16u19M pic.twitter.com/pIFnaPpLLS
— KSDK News (@ksdknews) September 24, 2017
The St. Louis County Police Department retweeted this next series of photos themselves, apparently certain they have nothing to hide in their arrest of Rev. Karla Frye.
This photo sequence indicates a woman inserting herself into an arrest in progress & is arrested herself at Galleria Mall today #STLVerdict pic.twitter.com/zBEYHaItZY
— Christian Gooden (@pd_shutterspeed) September 23, 2017
Some say police put Frye in a chokehold, while police contend she had to be pulled off the back of another officer as she tried to interfere with an arrest.
Recommended
Tell me where you see a woman jumping on the back of an officer @stlcountypd
Liars. #STLverdict https://t.co/DvwdYmDHRN
— Kayla Reed (@iKaylaReed) September 23, 2017
Where do you see a woman jumping on a cop’s back? Maybe this next photo from Post-Dispatch photographer Christian Gooden can clear that up.
Perhaps they mean this moment seconds before #STLVerdict pic.twitter.com/hBVDPwM2aX
— Christian Gooden (@pd_shutterspeed) September 24, 2017
Yeah, don’t do that.
A group of faith leaders and politicians held a press conference Monday to call for an investigation into what they call “military tactics” used by police to break up the mall demonstration Saturday. Of 22 arrested, seven were charged with rioting and resisting arrest. Critics went so far as to accuse the police of “terrorism” at the Galleria.
State representative and others calling for investigation of police over protest arrests at suburban St. Louis mall. https://t.co/nZsjmW1QB1
— AP Central U.S. (@APCentralRegion) September 25, 2017
Elected & religious leaders hold news conference accusing police of "terrorism" during crackdown of #GalleriaProtest @FOX2now @KPLR11 pic.twitter.com/w9f5IQ5i1A
— Andy Banker (@andybankertv) September 25, 2017
Faith leaders and elected officials speak out about police response to Galleria protest https://t.co/n4jl6FMIxJ pic.twitter.com/t42o56aCfi
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) September 25, 2017
Just to repeat: A judge acquitted Stockley on Sept. 15 after reviewing the evidence in the case.
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Related:
City of St. Louis bestows highest honor on suspected drug dealer killed by former cop Jason Stockley https://t.co/1Q5GCqpogO
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 24, 2017
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