Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)

Protests broke out in the streets of St. Louis on Friday, September 15 after Judge Timothy Wilson issued a ruling acquitting former police officer Jason Stockley of murder. At one point, an estimated 300 protesters were on the city streets, although they were matched by a force of 100 or so officers. The protests were almost entirely peaceful, although at one point police deployed pepper spray as protesters blocked a police bus. Police also used their bicycles as makeshift barricades, pushing back the crowd. They stopped them both from entering the highway on foot and thwarted an effort to enter the city's convention center. Photographer Theo Welling was there to capture the action in the initial hours after the early-morning verdict and into the afternoon.

Protests broke out in the streets of St. Louis on Friday, September 15 after Judge Timothy Wilson issued a ruling acquitting former police officer Jason Stockley of murder. At one point, an estimated 300 protesters were on the city streets, although they were matched by a force of 100 or so officers. The protests were almost entirely peaceful, although at one point police deployed pepper spray as protesters blocked a police bus. Police also used their bicycles as makeshift barricades, pushing back the crowd.

Photographer Theo Welling was there to capture the action in the initial hours after the early-morning verdict and into the afternoon.

September 15, 2017
Photos by Theo Welling
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Activist Anthony Shahid kicks off a march of protesters at Market and Tucker earlier this morning.
Theo Welling
Activist Anthony Shahid kicks off a march of protesters at Market and Tucker earlier this morning.
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling
Protesters burned a Cardinals sweatshirt.
Theo Welling
Protesters burned a Cardinals sweatshirt.
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling
Protesters trying to get on the highway were met by a police barricade on the on-ramp. Eventually, the protesters mostly left.
Theo Welling
Protesters trying to get on the highway were met by a police barricade on the on-ramp. Eventually, the protesters mostly left.
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling
Protests Break Out in Downtown St. Louis After Cop Is Acquitted (PHOTOS)
Theo Welling