Only hours after police slammed down Ferguson activist Mike Lhotak on the highway, the video of his arrest went viral on social media.
Lhotak, 28, was among about 10 “white allies,” who had volunteered to get arrested during August 10’s highway shutdown, an act of civil disobedience to bring attention to police brutality. The action was part of the Ferguson Commemoration Weekend, which included August 9 anniversary of Ferguson police killing Michael Brown Jr.
“The white allies in the movement would be the ones who would get arrested for a change,” he said. “That was the goal.”
About 80 demonstrators and legal observers were on site as human barricades were created to block Interstate-70, near 270 and the Blanchette Bridge, in both directions. The protest began at 5 p.m., peak rush hour time, and lasted for about 30 minutes.
The group chose that particular bridge because he said it represents white flight and the racial divisiveness of the region. They were trying to get the attention of people who work in St. Louis County or city but live in St. Charles County, he said.
In the video, Lhotak is seen breaking away from the group, as the protestors were being pushed off the highway by a line of police. He started jumping up and down waving his arms as a dozen police narrowed in on him, coming from all directions. One male officer – who was not a St. Louis County Police officer according to the county department – lifted Lhotak up and slammed him down on his left side. Then the others dived in to grab his limbs and hold him down.
“I talked with the state troopers afterwards,” he said. “They knew I was acting as a decoy.”
He said he was trying to draw attention away from the African-American protestors, including Millennial Activists United leaders Brittany Ferrell and Alexis Templeton who led the action.
However the plan failed when police started arresting people as they were trying to leave – as the police had ordered them to do. In total, police made 64 arrests, according to the St. Louis County police. All individuals involved in the highway shutdown were charged with “interfering with an officer.”
Lhotak was still sitting in plastic handcuffs at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy in Wellston when officers started coming up to him.
“The police were telling me, ‘You’re a YouTube sensation,’” he said.
And then the jokes started. He said it was clear that all the officers there had already watched it.
“Wasn’t it a Girl Scout passing you on street that slammed you?” one of them said.
“Everybody has to be known for something,” another said. “You were the one making a fool of yourself on the highway.”
The St. Louis County police spokesman said they’ve gotten no feedback or questions about the video because “he is not our officer.” The St. Louis American has not yet been able to identify the officer who took down Lhotak.
Lhotak suffered from a rib contusion on his left side, scrapes and bruises as a result of the arrest.
It wasn’t until the next day, when he was released from police custody, did he watch the video. By then it had been seen by millions around the world. From dentist offices to social media, people are talking about the “take down” and the highway shutdown. He said he’s been trying not to look at the comments from people who were outraged at the demonstration. People who say things like, “He deserved much worse.” Because in the end, he said, they successfully stirred up the conversation.
Lhotak, who earned a sociology degree from University of Missouri – Columbia, is currently looking for a position as a family advocate. He helped organize a Black Lives Matter silent march by Busch Stadium in June, where police repeatedly tased a University City school board member while arresting her.
“Ferguson is everywhere,” he said, which were also the words printed on the large yellow boxes that helped block traffic. “We had organized resistance, and we were able to do it that long. It was a real success.”
Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.
