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St Louis Protests: Peaceful by Day, Violent by Night

CBN

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Peaceful protests in the city of St. Louis this weekend turned violent at night.

During the day hundreds marched peacefully in protest of Friday's acquittal of a white police officer who killed a black man in 2011.

At night, the protests took a destructive turn with downtown storefronts damaged, rioters even breaking windows at the mayor's home.

Police and protest organizers say when the peaceful protestors have gone home, the violent ones have taken over.

"An unruly crowd became a mob. This mob was intent on destroying or damaging property assaulting police officers and setting fires," Mayor and Police Chief Larry O'Toole said.

Hundreds of police in riot gear eventually moved in with armored vehicles. The demonstrators retreated down a street, breaking windows with trash cans and throwing objects at police.

Sam Thomas, who was helping his friend clean up the glass from the shattered windows of his business, OSO, a clothing and accessories boutique, said violence isn't the way to fix the situation.

"I'm not saying this is the right way to fix it," he said of the damage.

Clashes between the nighttime protestors and police left nearly a dozen officers injured.

More than 40 people have been arrested.

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