News & Commentary

“Based on the evidence we’ve seen, we believe an outside investigation into police treatment of protestors and those engaged in civil disobedience following the Stockley verdict is a step in the right direction,” said Tony Rothert, legal director at the ACLU of Missouri. “In a robust democracy, we must always protect the Constitutional rights of those observing, recording or participating in protest activity.”

Dear County Executive Stenger, Mayor Thomson and Chief Belmar:Em

ST. LOUIS – The ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit today against the city of St. Louis for unlawful and unconstitutional actions against people during the Stockley verdict demonstrations of the past week.

"We thank Mayor Krewson for responding to our concerns about police."  -- Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director, ACLU of Missouri

Dear Mayor Krewson,

“Since Friday’s verdict in the Stockley case, protests in St. Louis have been largely peaceful and nonviolent.

Dear Mayor Krewson, Lt. Col. O'Toole, and Sheriff Betts:On Friday, the ACLU of Missouri sent each of your offices a letter. We implored you to remind law enforcement to allow the community to continue to express its outrage, pain and grief by protecting their First Amendment right to protest.They didn’t.We know there were sporadic moments of violence and vandalism – these are not covered by the Constitutional right to protest. However, outside of these moments, officers broke their vow to protect the public by engaging in illegal activities and actions that violated policies of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and agreed-upon rules of engagement made during 2014 protests.

Dear Mayor Krewson, Lt. Col. O'Toole, and Sheriff Betts: