On Columbus Day, protests across the St. Louis region took place in light of the recent shooting death of Mike Brown in Ferguson and other events. In the end, at least 50 persons were arrested including scholar Dr. Cornel West.
Protests of varying degrees have been occurring since the August police shooting death of Brown, and the shooting of 18-year-old Vonderrit Myers Jr. added to the high emotions already present on the ground. While much of the protests took place in Ferguson, protesters occupied St. Louis city hall and various businesses throughout the county.
Raw Story writes:
Throughout the day, other groups occupied St. Louis city hall, shut down two Walmarts, chanted outside a fundraiser for a local politician, and unfurled banners reading “black lives matter” at a St. Louis Rams football game.
One person was arrested at St. Louis city hall, police said, and a Reuters witness saw three more people arrested as 150 protesters chanted at the Walmart in the small inner suburb of Maplewood.
“This is a historic day,” said Mervyn Marcano, a spokesman for “Ferguson October,” four days of protests culminating on what organizers call “Moral Monday.”
Over the weekend there were marches, rallies, vigils and teach-ins in Ferguson and St Louis and organizers livestreamed events to show that there was no violence or looting.
Darren Wilson, the officer who shot and killed the 18-year-old Brown, is still awaiting charges from a grand jury. Protesters are demanding a swifter process in charging Wilson.
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Photo: Twitter
