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| 1,000-plus protesters begin sit-in at St. Louis University following march | 1,000-plus protesters begin sit-in at St. Louis University following march |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| ST. LOUIS – More than 1,000 peaceful protesters shut down an intersection by playing jump rope and silently marched through St. Louis before staging a sit-in at St. Louis University early Monday morning. | ST. LOUIS – More than 1,000 peaceful protesters shut down an intersection by playing jump rope and silently marched through St. Louis before staging a sit-in at St. Louis University early Monday morning. |
| The protests were part of the “weekend of resistance” that brought scores of protesters to Greater St. Louis as demonstrations continued in light of the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown, a black man shot and killed by a white police officer. | The protests were part of the “weekend of resistance” that brought scores of protesters to Greater St. Louis as demonstrations continued in light of the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown, a black man shot and killed by a white police officer. |
| The demonstrations were the latest in a series of meticulously organized protests and acts of civil disobedience. The specifics have been held tightly by organizers, with just several dozen people aware of each night’s plans until moments before the actions. | The demonstrations were the latest in a series of meticulously organized protests and acts of civil disobedience. The specifics have been held tightly by organizers, with just several dozen people aware of each night’s plans until moments before the actions. |
| The demonstrators gathered in the Shaw neighborhood — at the scene of another recent police shooting — and split into two groups. | The demonstrators gathered in the Shaw neighborhood — at the scene of another recent police shooting — and split into two groups. |
| The first group departed just after 11 p.m., marching to a nearby intersection and shutting down traffic by playing hopscotch, jumping rope and tossing footballs. | The first group departed just after 11 p.m., marching to a nearby intersection and shutting down traffic by playing hopscotch, jumping rope and tossing footballs. |
| The demonstration was a play on what has become one of the most popular chants during the protests: | The demonstration was a play on what has become one of the most popular chants during the protests: |
| “They think it’s a game. They think it’s a joke.” | “They think it’s a game. They think it’s a joke.” |
| The second group departed about 45 minutes later, marching silently on the sidewalk to meet up with the first group. | The second group departed about 45 minutes later, marching silently on the sidewalk to meet up with the first group. |
| As the groups converged, they were met by officers in riot gear who held cans of pepper spray and smacked their shin guards. | |
| The officers stood both on the sidewalk and the street and threatened to arrest the marchers. The protest leaders said they had the right to proceed on the sidewalk. | |
| “This is an unlawful assembly,” an officer yelled. | “This is an unlawful assembly,” an officer yelled. |
| “No. It’s not,” protesters responded. “This is a peaceful group of people silently walking on the sidewalk.” | “No. It’s not,” protesters responded. “This is a peaceful group of people silently walking on the sidewalk.” |
| Officers continued to make noise with their batons and threaten to arrest protesters who stood in the sidewalk and refused to turn back. | Officers continued to make noise with their batons and threaten to arrest protesters who stood in the sidewalk and refused to turn back. |
| “Can you please stop beating your sticks and talk to the people you protect?” asked Derek Robinson, a local minister. | “Can you please stop beating your sticks and talk to the people you protect?” asked Derek Robinson, a local minister. |
| Protesters asked officers why many did not have visible name tags and warned them that observers from the Department of Justice were in the crowd. | Protesters asked officers why many did not have visible name tags and warned them that observers from the Department of Justice were in the crowd. |
| After about 20 minutes, officers allowed the march to continue up the sidewalk. | |
| A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment. | A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment. |
| As the march continued, scholar and activist Cornel West emerged — prompting a massive cheer. | As the march continued, scholar and activist Cornel West emerged — prompting a massive cheer. |
| Earlier in the night, West had declared that he had come to be arrested in solidarity with protesters. | Earlier in the night, West had declared that he had come to be arrested in solidarity with protesters. |
| The march then proceeded up the street, chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” and made its way toward St. Louis University. | The march then proceeded up the street, chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” and made its way toward St. Louis University. |
| Campus security and police officers tried to stop the protest from entering St. Louis University’s campus. | |
| “I am a student, I have my ID, and I have a lot of guests,” a protest leader said into the megaphone. | |
| The security officers moved out of the way and the crowd poured into the campus. | The security officers moved out of the way and the crowd poured into the campus. |
| Protesters then gathered at the campus center chanting “out of the dorms and into the streets” as students rushed out of buildings. Some joined the protesters, others took photos and others brought out bottles of water. | |
| “This let me know that my son was loved and he is still being loved, right now,” said Vonderitt Myers Sr., whose son was shot and killed by a police officer earlier this month. Police said that Myers, 18, fired shots at the officer and that a gun was recovered from the scene. Family members insist Myers was unarmed. | |
| Myers’ family marched at the front of the protest and demonstrators observed four minutes of silence in his honor. | |
| Afterward, protest leaders addressed the crowd. They said their demonstration was about ending white supremacy and addressing systemic problems people face regardless of race. | |
| “This is the real definition of resistance … this thing right here that we’re doing right now is not only a symbolism of what we can do when we stick together, this is … It’s the beginning in a change in our consciousness as a people, as a human race,” Dhoruba Shakur said. | |
| They noted the significance of it being Columbus Day, calling him “the first looter” and saying they were “reclaiming” the college campus. | |
| “I know this was a college a couple of hours ago, but as of right now this is our spot and we not going nowhere,” a protest leader said. | |
| As of 2:45 am central time the sit-in continued. | As of 2:45 am central time the sit-in continued. |