“There’s nothing peaceful about confronting police officers in attempts to provoke a response for amateur iPhone camerapersons.”
Former St. Louis police officer Jason Shockley was found not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of Anthony Smith following a high-speed chase. Cases like these are always emotionally charged and controversial. Sadly, violence is also to be expected—especially if a police officer is acquitted of killing a black man.
The relationship between police officers and minority communities has deteriorated in recent years, following highly publicized accounts of the use of deadly force against black men. Many videos depicting such incidents have spread like wildfire across social media, causing the average citizen to feel licensed to practice law. The law enforcement community stood ready, committed to safety, following the acquittal of Jason Shockley. However, some things are beyond logic and control.
Many protesters showed up to express their outrage over the fact that Shockley wasn’t convicted. Much of the narrative that the public is witnessing regarding this case fails to mention that Anthony Smith led police on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 90 mph driving through residential neighborhoods.
Unfortunately, the chase ended in the use of deadly force when Shockley believed Smith was concealing a weapon. Smith was being pulled over after it was suspected that he had just carried out a drug deal. Indeed, a handgun and bag of heroin was found in Smith’s vehicle. While people can don their tin foil hats and come up with conspiracy theories, the justice system put Shockley through their wringer and he came out not guilty.
Of course, this led to mass rioting. I won’t sugar coat these disruptions to society by calling them protests. There’s nothing peaceful about confronting police officers in attempts to provoke a response for amateur iPhone camerapersons. Rioters took to the streets and assaulted police officers by throwing bricks and bottles, injuring several officers. They also damaged police vehicles and broke windshields.
The St. Louis Police Department responded by declaring that the gatherings were no longer considered peaceful protests. Criminals then made their way to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s home and broke windows and threw red paint on her house. Several businesses also shut down ahead of fears that violence and rioting would take over the city. The National Guard was on standby in case things got out of hand.
I’m not sure how further out of hand a crowd with pitchforks can get than vandalizing the mayor’s home. This despicable behavior needs to be condemned by the very civil rights activists who prompt action on several social issues in the United States. America has reached a sad state of affairs when attacking and injuring police officers has become an acceptable form of protest.
People gathered in the streets to block routes of travel in order to block police officers from certain areas. It seems that rioters haven’t learned anything from the Charlottesville, VA protests that ended in tragedy when people gathered in the road. I understand the struggle and concerns with police brutality, but I cannot and will not try to understand brutality against on-duty police.
