Influx of outsiders complicates protests in St. Louis, Ferguson
LatestA weekend of scheduled protests in commemoration of the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown has snowballed into an event much larger than many expected after another black teen was shot and killed by police in the St. Louis area earlier this week.
FOLLOW: Comprehensive coverage from Ferguson to Shaw and beyond by Fusion’s team on the ground
Out-of-town demonstrators have descended on the event, dubbed Ferguson October, joining local protesters whose passions have been reinvigorated after the shooting death of south St. Louis teen Vonderrit Myers Jr. Those two factors have combined to make this weekend’s demonstrations a large-scale event on multiple fronts.
In Ferguson, protesters presented police with a mirrored casket. They then pushed beyond a designated police line in a tense standoff with cops at the Ferguson Police Department Headquarters. The parking lot was then occupied, and demonstrators came within inches of officers dressed in riot gear.
Photo: Getty Images
Officials could be heard over the loudspeaker warning that anyone who touched an officer would be arrested and charged with assault.
Photo: Daniel Rivero
Photo: Daniel Rivero
Meanwhile, in south St. Louis, a well attended vigil at the memorial for teen Vonderrit Myers Jr., who was killed on Wednesday by a St. Louis Police officer, quickly turned into a march towards a main thoroughfare. Protesters attempted to occupy the block, but were surrounded by police in riot gear and armored vehicles. Helicopters swarmed overhead.
Photo: Daniel Rivero
After a police line advanced, the protesters took to the sidewalk and continued down the street with the police following. The two groups— protesters and police—walked side by side for a stretch of several blocks. Each side taunted the other: protesters yelled about killer cops, and police clanked their riot gear while staring down protesters.
The riot police did not, however, use pepper spray as they had the previous night.
Photo: Daniel Rivero
The headline event for Ferguson October is the Justice For All National March and Rally scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Protesters are also advising people to watch the St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants playoff game at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. And, they have made warnings about the St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game next Monday for Monday Night Football.
It’s not clear what activists might have planned for those two high-profile sporting events.
Indeed, with so many local actors, national organizers, and touring protesters about, it is hard to tell who, if anyone, is actually directing the situation.
Daniel Rivero is a producer/reporter for Fusion who focuses on police and justice issues. He also skateboards, does a bunch of arts related things on his off time, and likes Cuban coffee.