Why did the Mayor of St. Louis, MO catch so much hell after broadcasting the names and addresses of protesters? This is why.

Amber Yates, Guest Writer

Surely, nobody could have seen this one coming.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson has come under national scrutiny for publicly doxxing several of her constituents who provided her with a list of demands to defund the local police department. Citizens are calling for her resignation after she put lives in danger during a 10-minute segment of her Facebook Live video update on June 26, in which she read aloud names and addresses of demonstrators as she reviewed their demands with the public.

Though her office eventually redacted the video, the damage was already done. Several people saw and even recorded the live presentation before it was removed.

On June 27 during a demonstration in Florissant, MO, 16 protestors were arrested by officers who used forceful tactics on the peaceful assembly. Early in the evening, police rushed the crowd with batons and heavy use of mace after shouting a single order to “move”, which was not a crowd dispersal order but rather a command for officers to mobilize. Later, one woman who had been included in Krewson’s doxxing the day before was violently apprehended by police.

A live Facebook video caught the violence on camera as multiple officers rushed her while she was using a loud speaker on the front line, dragging her down to the ground by her hair. Their force was substantial enough to pull the braids out of her scalp. They continued to pile on top of her while a line of officers blocked demonstrators from assisting. Friends at the protest confirmed that she was one of the people doxxed by the St. Louis Mayor. Twitter was abuzz with the news.

Congrats @LydaKrewson, putting a hit out on your constituents was successful @search4swag @CopWatchSTL pic.twitter.com/CfCYJ4sQZt

— blob (@nebulousblob) June 28, 2020

There were 18 protesters arrested in Florissant last night, one of whom had her full name and address read on Facebook Live by Mayor Krewson a day prior. https://t.co/2zOSjHttfu

— Sophie “a Jewish” Hurwitz (@sophiehurwitz) June 28, 2020

Florissant police detain a woman during a protest against police brutality and racial injustice in Florissant, Missouri, U.S., June 27, 2020. REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant pic.twitter.com/LxLIeJeypc

— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) June 28, 2020

Protests have been occurring regularly at the Florissant Police Department for several weeks, sparked by an incident where an officer ran over a local man with a police SUV. The department continues to justify their use of force by claiming that protesters are not following rules and guidelines of where they are allowed to demonstrate.

The Florissant Police Department was quick to fabricate a social media report that the assembly Saturday had become unlawful and their force was a response to items being thrown at officers with intent to injure.

“In reference to the ongoing protest tonight at the Florissant Police Department this has not been peaceful. Officers have been assaulted with frozen bottles, glass bottles as well as rocks. All after 4 dispersal orders were made. Numerous arrest have been made.”

Demonstrators in attendance and those who watched live streams of the event stated on social media that this was a lie, however, and that nothing was thrown before they rushed the crowd with force.

Here’s the concern with the part Mayor Krewson played in the violence on June 27.

Krewson must have been aware of the dangers of outing those in support of defunding the police to the public, but she did so without hesitation and gave weak apologies to justify her actions. In one video she even tried to blame the demonstrators themselves for providing her with their personal information, though surely no one could have expected the Mayor of the city to reveal that information to anyone aside from her staff.

Krewson’s lack of interest in protecting and serving her people is evident. It is clear that her loyalty to city officials outweighs her concern for her constituents’ safety and wellbeing. The entire nation knew that what took place in Florissant was likely to be a consequence of her lack of grace, and it happened less than 48 hours later. The brutality of this woman’s arrest is on Lyda Krewson’s hands and she must be held accountable.