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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ferguson protesters say traffic snarl a success

Mcclatchy-Tribune

NORMANDY, Mo. – The demonstrators protesting the death of Ferguson teen Michael Brown failed in their bid to shut down rush-hour traffic on Interstate 70 Wednesday afternoon but nonetheless claimed success for disrupting traffic for hours on North Hanley Road, a major St. Louis County artery.

Before a late afternoon thunderstorm dispersed the final remnants of protesters that at one point approached 150 people, clashes with police had resulted in 32 charged with unlawful assembly and four with assault on law enforcement officers.

No one was injured during the nearly three-hour standoff with authorities.

Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Al Nothum reported that state police, St. Louis County and St. Louis city police officers were pelted with bricks, rocks, concrete chunks, filled plastic water bottles and glass bottles.

“People didn’t get to shut the interstate down, so I think we can call it a success,” Nothum said.

The bid to close down I-70 failed after police, some in riot helmets, sealed off the eastbound exit and entrance ramps shortly after 3 p.m.

Organizer Eric Vickers said the protest succeeded even though demonstrators didn’t meet their objective.

The police “tied up traffic for us,” Vickers said. “So we accomplished our aim of bringing attention to this issue.”

Mauye Macon, 29, of Normandy, made an identical observation a few yards from the manned police lines and law enforcement vehicles that choked off the street near the northwest corner of the North Hanley MetroLink Station parking lot.

“We didn’t have to block (the highway),” Macon said. “(The police) did it for us. Thank you. Mission accomplished.”

Vickers would not rule out further acts of “civil disobedience” this week, including another possible highway shutdown attempt to protest St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch’s continuing involvement in the Brown case.

McCulloch’s office is overseeing the grand jury inquiry into the Aug. 9 shooting death of Brown by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson.