St. Louis faith leaders urge peace, justice amid turmoil
ST. LOUIS — Leaders of several faiths on Tuesday called for peace and justice amid the turmoil that followed the acquittal of a white former St. Louis police officer in the 2011 death of a black man.
Several hundred people gathered on a hot, unshaded public plaza for an interfaith service followed by a march to City Hall. The service came after four days of protests that followed a judge’s decision Friday to acquit Jason Stockley of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. Speakers at the service included Roman Catholic Archbishop Robert Carlson, black church pastors, and Jewish and Muslim leaders.
“Let us remember that we are not a divided humanity, but a human family,” Carlson said. “Let us show love instead of hatred.”
Several who spoke acknowledged the pain the ruling caused African-Americans in the community.