Hundreds of protesters descended on St. Louis this weekend for demonstrations, rallies and speeches that will continue Monday.
Overnight those protests included marches from the Shaw neighborhood where last week 18-year-old Vonderrit Myers was fatally shot by an off-duty St. Louis City police officer working security. Police say forensic evidence shows he fired three times at the officer.
The protests were part of a weekend that has become known as Ferguson October, but demonstrations overnight became known on Twitter as “Occupy SLU,” as students at the University came out of their dorms and joined in a sit-in on the campus. The weekend’s organized marches and acts of civil disobedience were part of continuing displays in response to the August 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer.
Some accused police of intimidating marchers and threatening to arrest some for unlawful assembly. Police say some officers were spat on and the target of thrown rocks.
17 people were arrested and some were pepper sprayed by police during a protest at a convenience store in south St. Louis. Police Chief Sam Dotson said they were interfering with the operation of the business and frightening workers.
Further acts of civil disobedience are expected to occur Monday.
AUDIO:Â Jessica Machetta reports from protests overnight in St. Louis, :50
