Smashed Windows Line the Loop After Late-Night Protest Turns

Community members and store owners worked early this morning to restore order to the Loop after a brief but intense vandalism spree left almost all of the storefronts on the street shattered.

The vandalism followed what had been an entirely peaceful protest of an estimated 1,000 people through the commercial district, which straddles the city of St. Louis and University City. Police officers largely stood by as state Representative Bruce Franks (D-St. Louis) and other organizers led marchers through the main drag several times, at two points sitting at the intersection Delmar and Skinker and blocking it to traffic. Then they urged protesters to go home — and most of them complied.

See also: Peaceful Protest Draws 1,000+ to Delmar Loop

But a smaller group remained. And around 10:45 p.m., someone threw something — possibly a chair, seen below — at the Starbucks' storefront, shattering its window.

While police rapidly arrested one man — it is not clear if he was was the one who broke the Starbucks window — things took a sudden turn when cops began pushing the line of protest to disperse. Agitators who had been throwing objects at the police line retreated, and then took to other windows in rapid succession, throwing garbage cans, patio tables and landscaping blocks through the large glass windows facing the street in restaurants, stores and galleries.

Within minutes, almost every business in the central area of the district had shattered windows, and police found themselves facing off with the small band that remained.


Police arrested at least a half-dozen.


And after the protest was finally, totally over a little before midnight, business owners came out to contemplate the damage and board up their glass storefronts.

Salt + Smoke posted a photo of its cleanup efforts on Instagram early this morning. Hashtag: #lovewillbringustogether.

Unfortunate events lead to many friends and hands helping out all the businesses affected on the loop tonight. #lovewillbringustogether

A post shared by Salt + Smoke (@saltandsmokestl) on Sep 16, 2017 at 11:19pm PDT

Salt + Smoke owner Tom Schmidt also posted that he'd gotten support in the early hours of the morning from another restaurateur — Dave Bailey of Baileys' Restaurants.

"That time Dave Bailey from @baileysinstl shows up at 3am to vacuum and board your windows," he wrote.

That time Dave Bailey from @baileysinstl shows up at 3am to vacuum and board your windows.

A post shared by Salt + Smoke (@saltandsmokestl) on Sep 16, 2017 at 11:20pm PDT

Bailey, of course, is no stranger to situations like these — his restaurant on South Grand was among those hit during unrest in Ferguson three years ago.

Scroll down for more photos of the aftermath.



See also: Peaceful Protest Draws 1,000+ to Delmar Loop

Danny Wicentowski and Kelly Glueck contributed to this story.

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