Peaceful protest follows mass arrests in St. Louis

Protesters gathered outside the jail in downtown St. Louis Monday night and chanted, “Free our people,” in support of those arrested Sunday night when vandalism accompanied anti-police demonstrations. Police rounded up about 80 people Sunday night after boxing in protesters and bystanders at a downtown intersection. Some of the arrestees say the police maneuver, called “kettling,” violated their constitutional rights, but no lawsuits have been filed in the matter yet. Three days and nights of protests followed Friday’s acquittal of former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley in the 2011 shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith. Stockley, who was charged with first-degree murder, said he saw Smith holding a gun and felt he was in imminent danger. Prosecutors said the officer planted a gun in Smith’s car after the shooting. Monday night brought a break from the vandalism and aggression toward police that marred some protests held on previous nights. More protests are expected Tuesday.