Over 1,000 Protesters Stage 'Moral Monday' In St. Louis
Protesters continued to gather in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday morning to oppose the recent shootings of two black teenagers in the area.
According to Reuters, about 1,000 protesters took to the streets to chant slogans like "Indict, convict, put the killer cops in jail" and "The whole damn system is guilty as well."
The recent marches are in protest to the deaths of two black teens. Teenager Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer back in August, while another black teen, Vonderrit D. Myers, was shot last week in St. Louis. Myers' mother claims her son was shot unarmed while carrying a sandwich, while the police department maintains that he was armed at the time of his shooting.
Reuters reports that in the most recent wave of protests, 17 citizens have been arrested after they staged a sit-in at a local convenience store.
Monday has been deemed "Moral Monday" by protesters as they plan to stage protests at several public locations throughout St. Louis.
Police have said they are prepared for the upcoming events and plan to ensure that safety is maintained throughout the city.
"Police officers don't like the unknown," St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson said, according to USA Today. "So anything that would impact the average person's daily life concerns me. […] Can I keep the public safe? Can I keep the officers safe? Can I keep some sense of normalcy in our community?"
