St. Louis protesters march after ex-cop Jason Stockley is acquitted of shooting a black motorist
Protesters gather following a not guilty verdict of Jason Stockley. (Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson)
The ex-cop who shot and killed a black motorist in St. Louis, Missouri has been acquitted of murder.
Jason Stockley shot and killed 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith after a chase over a suspected drug deal in December 2011, according to CNN. Stockley defended himself, claiming that he thought Smith was reaching for a gun in his car, although the prosecution accused Stockley of planting the gun in question to exonerate himself.
“This Court, in conscience, cannot say that the State has proven every element of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, or that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in self-defense,” said St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson in explaining his ruling. “Given that the State here has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant’s use of deadly force was not justified in self-defense, the Court need not address lesser degrees of homicide including involuntary manslaughter.”
Not surprisingly, the verdict has been met with passionate responses on Twitter.
I find it interesting that Black people are constantly told to react "peacefully" to systematic white supremacist violence #JasonStockley
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) September 15, 2017
Despite the absence of the suspect's DNA on the gun in #JasonStockley case, judge determined it was his because…. https://t.co/FHh27zfaXz http://pic.twitter.com/hZ2MsVBRu4
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 15, 2017
I see the hoodlums and thugs of Black Lives Matter are running wild again in St. Louis #JasonStockley
— Hunter Wallace (@occdissent) September 15, 2017
The judge in the #JasonStockley trial ignored the actual evidence of Anthony Lamar Smith not having a gun, and let his racism judge for him.
— Mbye Njie (@mnjie) September 15, 2017
Forceful, pained statement from @RepMikeButler in response to #jasonstockley not guilty verdict https://t.co/QAljzNwVPd http://pic.twitter.com/nZkLDfDgFJ
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) September 15, 2017
"I encourage protestors to demonstrate peacefully, mindful of their safety & the safety of others." – MO AG @HawleyMO #JasonStockley
— Jasmine Huda (@jhuda) September 15, 2017
Thread re: #JasonStockley's premeditated public execution of #AnthonyLamarSmith & the system's continued encouragement of antiblack violence https://t.co/OUWWLEx6eu
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) September 15, 2017
#JasonStockley
1. Planned to murder in advance
2. Has a personal gun against police policy with him
3. Planted a gun on his victim— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) September 15, 2017
The unconstitutional #JasonStockley verdict is further proof that LE & the court systems have been fully infiltrated by white supremacists
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) September 15, 2017
BREAKING: We urge St. Louis Police to exercise restraint & protect peaceful protestors after #JasonStockley verdict https://t.co/dn8dRvCPI3 http://pic.twitter.com/wrt6gERVck
— AmnestyInternational (@amnestyusa) September 15, 2017
There was also some on the ground reporting.
Police took a protester off his bike and arrested him. No one seems really clear why. #JasonStockley http://pic.twitter.com/BMjGF6bzIe
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) September 15, 2017
Lots of cops on bikes in St. Louis right now. Three helicopters in the sky (some are media). #JasonStockley http://pic.twitter.com/aQoVDYEgzP
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) September 15, 2017
The overwhelming consensus among racial justice advocates was that Smith’s supporters should fully exercise their right to peaceful protest.
“What the country needs to know is, every single person in our country, we have a right to be mad. We have a right to disagree. We have a right to express our opinion. We have a right to protest,” said Al Watkins, an attorney who represented Smith’s former fiancée, Christina Wilson.
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