St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson had the opportunity to call for peaceful protests in her city after the former St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was exonerated of murder in a court of law, but instead, she decided to stir the pot by suggesting that justice was not served, potentially leading angry protesters to believe it is now their responsibility to deliver justice.
Is karma knocking on her door?
Mayor Lyda Krewson released a statement following the verdict saying, “I am appalled at what happened to Anthony Lamar Smith.”
“I am sobered by this outcome. Frustration, anger, hurt, pain, hope and love all intermingled. I encourage St. Louisans to show each other compassion, to recognize that we all have different experiences and backgrounds and that we all come to this with real feelings and experiences,” she wrote.
Krewson’s comment drew a rebuke from Neil Bruntrager, Stockley’s lawyer.
“How do you promote all those things by creating distrust in a system that clearly worked under these circumstances?” Bruntrager said. “It is irresponsible and a disservice to the community to make statements like that. It’s an insult to Judge Wilson to make statements like that. And it falsely encourages the belief that an injustice was done here when in fact justice was done.” –St. Louis Dispatch
Agitators refuse to disperse causing property damage near Mayor's home. Those who don't comply w/police orders subject to arrest #stlverdict
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 16, 2017
According to this Twitter user, there is an unruly mob outside of the St. Louis Mayor’s home and they’ve asked for a “white female to knock on the door.”
Asking for white female ally to knock on door of @LydaKrewson pic.twitter.com/SuXVNo8CJi
— P. Kim Bui (@kimbui) September 16, 2017
Here’s a shot of the police in front of the mayor’s home:
Police in front of @LydaKrewson's house. pic.twitter.com/xAOU4SWaDd
— P. Kim Bui (@kimbui) September 16, 2017
Red paint was thrown at the Mayor’s home:
Paint thrown as well. Leaders are asking people to move pic.twitter.com/4pT2ESKWFX
— P. Kim Bui (@kimbui) September 16, 2017
Here’s a video of the mob:
https://twitter.com/10_gop/status/908887471240482816
St. Louis Police posted pictures of the projectiles being thrown at police officers.
Rocks & water bottles have been thrown at our officers throughout the day. Officers used great restraint. #STLVerdict pic.twitter.com/LIl2OxKhcO
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 15, 2017
4 officers assaulted. 1 treated for hand injury. 3 not treated-1 hit w/ water bottle, 1 knocked off bike & 1 pinned on bike. #STLVerdict
— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 15, 2017