Deray McKesson, Johnetta Elzie Arrested in Ferguson During Demonstrations
Following the one-year anniversary of the slaying of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., protesters have been arrested outside the steps of a federal courthouse of St. Louis, including activists Cornel West, Deray McKesson, Kayla Reed and Johnetta Elzie. According to tweets, they were taping the Moral Monday demonstrations this afternoon.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the city.
"The recent acts of violence will not be tolerated in a community that has worked so tirelessly over the last year to rebuild and become stronger," St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger said in a statement Monday.
On Sunday night, Tyrone Harris Jr., 18, was shot by police after police say he opened fire on the officers. He has since been charged with multiple accounts of assault on officers, armed criminal action and shooting a firearm.
St. Louis Police Chief John Belmar made it clear during a press conference that Harris and others who looted were not part of the peaceful demonstrations that also took place Sunday night.
"They were criminals; they weren’t protesters,” the chief said, according to NBCNews.com. “Protesters are out there talking about a way to effect change, whatever that may be.”
This story is still developing.
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(Photo: Brittany Packnett via Twitter)
