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Protesters stage surprise sit-in at St. Louis gas station, several arrested Protesters stage surprise sit-in at St. Louis gas station, several arrested
(about 4 hours later)
ST. LOUIS — In a symbolic and defiant act of civil disobedience, more than 100 protesters staged a sit-in at a QuickTrip gas station in St. Louis near the site of a police involved shooting earlier this week — prompting riot police to deploy tear gas and make arrests. ST. LOUIS — In a symbolic and defiant act of civil disobedience, more than 100 protesters staged a sit-in at a QuikTrip gas station in St. Louis near the site of a police-involved shooting last week — prompting riot police to deploy tear gas and make arrests.
The mass arrest event — arrest totals were not immediately available from St. Louis police, but it appeared that well more than a dozen protesters were arrested — was the first time that any demonstrator had been taken into custody this weekend, which has been branded Ferguson October. The mass arrest event — the number of those arrested was not immediately available from St. Louis police, but it appeared that well over a dozen protesters were arrested — was the first time that any demonstrator had been taken into custody this weekend, which has been branded Ferguson October.
Protest leaders said Sunday morning that they know of at least 14 people who were arrested. St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson took to Twitter to accuse the demonstrators of throwing rocks at officers.Protest leaders said Sunday morning that they know of at least 14 people who were arrested. St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson took to Twitter to accuse the demonstrators of throwing rocks at officers.
Hundreds have swarmed greater St. Louis for demonstrations in light of the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. Hundreds have swarmed greater St. Louis for demonstrations after the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer.
But, unlike the marches and demonstrations earlier in the weekend, the plans for the late night march were closely held by organizers — with only several dozen of the most-active local activists in Ferguson aware that the group would be led to the gas station and that an act of civil disobedience would take place. But, unlike the marches and demonstrations earlier in the weekend, the plans for the late-night march were closely guarded by organizers — with only several dozen of the most-active local activists in Ferguson aware that the group would be led to the gas station and that an act of civil disobedience would take place.
Organizers remained tight-lipped about the marches’ destination, even going as far as to tweet inaccurate information about when they were leaving the scene of the Shaw shooting and in what direction they were walking with the hopes of preventing police from pre-empting their plans. Organizers remained tight-lipped about the march’s destination, even going as far as to tweet inaccurate information about when they were leaving the scene of the Shaw shooting and in what direction they were walking — in a bid to prevent preemptive police measures.
The QuickTrip was chosen in part because of the role a QT gas station in Ferguson played in the aftermath of the Brown shooting — it was burned down on the first day of protests and then became an impromptu town square and meeting place for protesters until the owners erected a fence around the lot. The QuikTrip was chosen in part because of the role a QT gas station in Ferguson played in the aftermath of the Brown shooting — it was burned down on the first day of protests and then became an impromptu town square and meeting place for protesters until the owners erected a fence around the lot.
In a nod to their lost meeting place in Ferguson, organizers decided that the mass arrest event on early Sunday morning would be to “occupy” another QuickTrip. In a nod to their lost meeting place in Ferguson, organizers decided to “occupy” another QuikTrip early Sunday.
First, organizers departed from protests taking place in Ferguson and began spreading the word to assemble in Shaw — at the scene of a police involved shooting earlier this week. First, organizers departed from protests taking place in Ferguson and began spreading the word to assemble in Shaw — at the scene of a police-involved shooting last week.
Then, with close to 100 people, they began marching down the St. Louis sidewalks around 1 a.m.Then, with close to 100 people, they began marching down the St. Louis sidewalks around 1 a.m.
Chanting “no justice, no peace,” and “the whole damn system is guilty as hell,” the marchers were on the move for close to half an hour. Blocks from the QuickTrip, officers in cruisers, trucks and large tactical vehicles began to catch up. Chanting “no justice, no peace” and “the whole damn system is guilty as hell,” the marchers were on the move for close to half an hour. Blocks from the QuikTrip, officers in cruisers, trucks and large tactical vehicles began to catch up.
When the protest reached the gas station, march leaders yelled through the loud speakers: “Do not cause any destruction, this is a peaceful protest.” Then, volunteers stood guard at the gas station’s entrances to make sure no one entered or harmed the building. When the protest reached the gas station, march leaders yelled through the loud speakers: “Do not cause any destruction; this is a peaceful protest.” Then, volunteers stood guard at the gas station’s entrances to make sure no one entered or harmed the building.
Protestors attempting to storm Quicktrip at Vandeventer & Chouteau. All protestors engaging in illegal behavior will be subject to arrest. — Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014Protestors attempting to storm Quicktrip at Vandeventer & Chouteau. All protestors engaging in illegal behavior will be subject to arrest. — Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014
Protestors attempting to storm Quicktrip at Vandeventer & Chouteau. All protestors engaging in illegal behavior will be subject to arrest.Protestors attempting to storm Quicktrip at Vandeventer & Chouteau. All protestors engaging in illegal behavior will be subject to arrest.
— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014
The @SLMPD has alerted Quicktrips in the area to be on alert for potential protestors & civil unrest. This behavior will not be tolerated. — Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014The @SLMPD has alerted Quicktrips in the area to be on alert for potential protestors & civil unrest. This behavior will not be tolerated. — Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014
The @SLMPD has alerted Quicktrips in the area to be on alert for potential protestors & civil unrest. This behavior will not be tolerated.The @SLMPD has alerted Quicktrips in the area to be on alert for potential protestors & civil unrest. This behavior will not be tolerated.
— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014
Officers with large shields and other riot gear then entered the gas station lot behind the protesters, forming an “L” formation around the group of protesters —  who paused for four and a half minutes of silence for Brown. Officers with large shields and other riot gear then entered the gas station lot behind the protesters, making an “L” formation around the protesters — who paused for 4½ minutes of silence for Brown.
Then, dozens for protesters locked arms and sat on the pathway in front of the gas station entrance. Officers wielding batons and cans of pepper spray ordered them to leave and then began making arrests. Then, dozens for protesters locked arms and sat on the pathway in front of the entrance. Officers wielding batons and cans of pepper spray ordered them to leave and then began making arrests.
"This is an unlawful assembly, disperse now or you will be arrested" pic.twitter.com/174GmJTYtX — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014"This is an unlawful assembly, disperse now or you will be arrested" pic.twitter.com/174GmJTYtX — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014
"This is an unlawful assembly, disperse now or you will be arrested" pic.twitter.com/174GmJTYtX"This is an unlawful assembly, disperse now or you will be arrested" pic.twitter.com/174GmJTYtX
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014
The protesters who were not arrested were pushed onto the sidewalk, and then into the street where some officers deployed tear gas, which eventually dispersed the crowd, including many of the legal observers who were on hand. The protesters who were not arrested were pushed onto the sidewalk and then into the street, where some officers deployed tear gas, which eventually dispersed the crowd, including many of the legal observers who were on hand.
The use of tear gas came as local bars were emptying out, and several pedestrians walking through the area were caught in the spray. The use of tear gas came as local bars were emptying out, and several pedestrians in the area were caught in the spray.
“I was walking home down the street and all of a sudden my eyes started burning,” said Adam Spears, 23, a local resident who was not among the protesters. “I had no idea what was going on, or what I was walking into.” “I was walking home down the street and all of a sudden my eyes started burning,” said Adam Spears, 23, a resident who was not among the protesters. “I had no idea what was going on, or what I was walking into.”
When one observer spotted Chief Dotson, he called out and asked about whether or not he could continue standing on the sidewalk. Dotson acknowledged him, but then turned his back and walked away without answering. When one bystander spotted Dotson, he called out and asked about whether he could continue standing on the sidewalk. Dotson acknowledged him but then turned his back and walked away without answering.
Officers have cleared QT lot. Forcing protesters off sidewalk into street https://t.co/PLbLrubM7v — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014Officers have cleared QT lot. Forcing protesters off sidewalk into street https://t.co/PLbLrubM7v — Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014
Officers have cleared QT lot. Forcing protesters off sidewalk into street https://t.co/PLbLrubM7vOfficers have cleared QT lot. Forcing protesters off sidewalk into street https://t.co/PLbLrubM7v
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) October 12, 2014
Just after 3 a.m., Dotson —  who was later seen on the scene, although it is unclear when he arrived — tweeted that protesters had thrown rocks at some officers and that is what prompted the arrests. Just after 3 a.m., Dotson — who was later seen on the scene, although it is unclear when he arrived — tweeted that protesters had thrown rocks at some officers and that it prompted the arrests.
Protestors now throwing rocks at the police. Arrests have been made for continued illegal behavior. — Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014Protestors now throwing rocks at the police. Arrests have been made for continued illegal behavior. — Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014
Protestors now throwing rocks at the police. Arrests have been made for continued illegal behavior.Protestors now throwing rocks at the police. Arrests have been made for continued illegal behavior.
— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014— Chief Sam Dotson (@ChiefSLMPD) October 12, 2014
A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment or to provide further details of arrest totals and charges.A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment or to provide further details of arrest totals and charges.
A Post reporter at the QuickTrip did not observe any acts of aggression from protesters toward the police, however he was standing on the sidewalk off of the gas station lot in compliance with police orders and could not observe the entirety of the interaction unobstructed. Protest leaders insist that no rocks were thrown at officers, many of whom were carrying video cameras. A Post reporter at the QuikTrip did not observe any acts of aggression from protesters toward the police. However, he was standing on the sidewalk off of the gas station lot in compliance with police orders and could not observe the entirety of the interaction unobstructed. Protest leaders insist that no rocks were thrown at officers, many of whom were carrying video cameras.
The civil disobedience came in part due to local organizers’ frustrations with many of the Ferguson October events — which included police escorts and calm protests. Many of the local activists, who have been arrested several times throughout the sustained protests, have expressed anger during the calm and often celebratory nature of this weekend’s events. The civil disobedience came in part due to local organizers’ frustrations with many of the Ferguson October events — which included police escorts and calm protests. Many of the local activists, who have been arrested several times throughout the protests, have expressed anger at the often-celebratory nature of this weekend’s events.
The breaking point for some organizers was when a march to the Ferguson police station on Saturday night turned into a dance party in the streets.The breaking point for some organizers was when a march to the Ferguson police station on Saturday night turned into a dance party in the streets.
“It’s disrespectful,” said Deray McKesson, one of the local organizers. “This is supposed to be about showing solidarity, not a celebration.” “It’s disrespectful,” said Deray McKesson, one of the organizers. “This is supposed to be about showing solidarity, not a celebration.”