About 100 youth stormed St. Louis City Hall demanding to speak with Mayor Francis Slay about implementing a civilian review board and body cameras for police on Monday, October 13.
They also demanded that there be an independent review for all “police shootings,” and that the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department refrain from participating in federal programs that offer police agencies military equipment for free or at a discount.
The protesters held up three white 30-foot banners with bold black letters that stated, “We are the people. We have the power;” “Be accountable or be gone” and “Which side are you on.”
Young activist Kennard Williams yelled from the first floor, “Mayor Slay, we know you’re up there.” Instead he got his chief of staff Jeff Rainford, who brought Williams to Slay’s office to hear his demands. Rainford told the media that Slay was out of the office because he was undergoing a medical procedure, but that he was fine.
Williams gave Rainford the demands and said he wanted at least one of them implemented today. When Rainford said it wasn’t possible, the youth said they would stay there all night.
One young man was arrested moments after the youth entered City Hall. He was holding a banner from the steps going up to the second floor. While the police handcuffed him, the youth yelled, “You’re arresting me for holding a banner?” When he refused to let go of the banner, the police used force to bring his arm around.
A city official later told The American the protestor was trying to hang the banner from an old light fixture in a way that was unsafe. Others who put up banners safely were not bothered, the official said, but this young man persisted after police told him he was about to damage the light fixture.
Protesters left at about 5:30 p.m. and said they would be back later to meet with Slay.
