Prominent Activists, Including Cornel West, Arrested in St. Louis as County Declares State of Emergency
Activists and protesters, including noted academic Cornel West, were reportedly arrested at the federal courthouse in St. Louis on Monday, as St. Louis County officials issued a state of emergency following a night of unrest in Ferguson.
Have seen Cornel West, @deray, Rev Sekou, Rev Renita Lamkin and loads more arrested at federal courthouse in STL
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 10, 2015
Should be noted peaceful protesters at fed courthouse in downtown St Louis are being arrested by officers from the Dept of Homeland Security
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 10, 2015
Cop arresting @CornelWest smiling and taking pictures as a fellow cop poses for a photo with West in handcuffs. #moralmonday
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 10, 2015
The series of arrests came following a night in which a man who allegedly shot at police during a protest to mark the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death was himself shot and is now in critical condition.
The reports of the arrests trickled out on Twitter, where reporters and activists were broadcasting photos and streaming videos of the protest.
Both @deray and @Nettaaaaaaaa have been arrested. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/KX6LhimCiy
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 10, 2015
And the arrests begin. STL. https://t.co/3GUSZiMOmn
— deray mckesson (@deray) August 10, 2015
And the arrests continue. STL. DOJ. https://t.co/ZRbEISA0pG
— deray mckesson (@deray) August 10, 2015
They arrested Netta. https://t.co/1pDong9qxF
— deray mckesson (@deray) August 10, 2015
— deray mckesson (@deray) August 10, 2015
Among those also taken into custody were DeRay Mckesson and Johnetta Elzie, two prominent activists who were profiled by the New York Times Magazine earlier this year.
Elzie, who has more than 50,000 followers, sent out this tweet shortly before being taken into custody, an apparent reference to Sandra Bland’s mysterious death while in police custody last month.
If I'm arrested today please know I'm not suicidal. I have plenty to live for. I did not resist, I'm just black.
— ShordeeDooWhop (@Nettaaaaaaaa) August 10, 2015
As the arrests were going on, St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger issued a state of emergency for the county, saying that “recent acts of violence would not be tolerated.” According to the order, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar was given command over “police emergency management” in Ferguson and “surrounding areas.”
New: State of Emergency issued in St. Louis County by @StengerSTLCo re: recent #Ferguson events. pic.twitter.com/E7JvumEQ3o
— STL Public Radio (@stlpublicradio) August 10, 2015
Tyrone Harris, the man who was in critical condition after the alleged firefight with police, was charged with multiple crimes while in his hospital bed Monday, including first-degree assault on law enforcement.