Amid Sunday night's violent protests against St. Louis police, some officers chanted "whose streets, our streets" — a defiant refrain often used by Black Lives Matter protesters themselves — after making arrests, media members claimed.
David Carson, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch photographer, tweeted that the chant on Tucker Boulevard rang out twice, that the Associated Press journalists heard it and that he confirmed with civilians closer to the officers and two officers at the scene that the chant occurred.
The AP reported that "buses brought in additional officers in riot gear, and police scoured downtown deep into the night, making arrests and seizing at least five weapons, according to [Interim Police Chief Lawrence] O'Toole. Later, officers in riot gear gathered alongside a city boulevard chanting 'whose street, our street' — a common refrain used by the protesters — after clearing the street of demonstrators and onlookers."
Violent protests began in St. Louis on Friday when former police officer Jason Stockley — who is white — was acquitted of murdering Anthony Smith, a black man, after a 2011 high-speed chase related to a suspected drug deal.
Carson said that he spoke with a police commander regarding the chant who said he didn't hear it but that it was "not acceptable" and that he would "deal with it."
Carson also tweeted a video clip of chanting that he said "confirms what journalists heard." The video is shot from a distance, so it isn't clear who's actually chanting:
When asked to comment on the chanting allegation, St. Louis police on Monday told TheBlaze it's "aware of the video circulating on social media, and is reviewing the footage. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and any officer not meeting those standards will be held accountable."
Sunday's protests began peacefully for the most part but became increasingly violent as agitators broke windows and vandalized property, St. Louis Today reported. Over 80 people were arrested, CNN reported, while multiple weapons were seized.
“Some criminals assaulted law enforcement officers and threw chemicals and rocks at them," O’Toole said Monday morning. "All of the officers’ injuries were minor or moderate. All will be returned to duty soon. We’re in control, this is our city, and we’re going to protect it.”
Among those arrested was Post-Dispatch reporter Mike Faulk, who tweeted that he was among less than 100 people hemmed in by police with nowhere to go:
This story has been updated.
