U2 Cancels St Louis Concert Amid Heated Protests Over Cop's Acquittal

U2 has canceled their planned concert in St. Louis Saturday citing safety concerns amid the city’s protests over the acquittal of a police officer charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an African-American driver.

The band published a statement on its website Saturday morning saying members of the group were informed by the St. Louis Police Department that officers would not be able to provide adequate security for the concert.

“We have been informed by the St. Louis Police Department that they are not in a position to provide the standard protection for our audience as would be expected for an event of this size,” the band said in a joint statement with tour promoter Live Nation.

Also Read: Bono Writes Get Well Card for Congressman Injured in Alexandria Attack

“We have also been informed that local crowd security personnel would not be at full capacity,” the band explained. “In light of this information, we cannot in good conscience risk our fans’ safety by proceeding with tonight’s concert. As much as we regret having to cancel, we feel it is the only acceptable course of action in the current environment.”

Live Nation will refund the tickets, the press release said.

Protesters flooded St. Louis Friday morning after a judge found former police officer Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.

Also Read: U2 Slapped With $5 Million Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Achtung Baby' Track

At least nine officers were injured in day of protests in St. Louis’ downtown and in Central West End areas, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. About 1,000 protesters surrounded the home of the city’s mayor, Lyda Krewson, in the Central West End late Friday, breaking windows and vandalizing it with red paint before cops arrived.

9 People Fired or Suspended for Black Lives Matter Comments (Photos)

In light of the recent fatal shootings of Keith L. Scott and Terence Crutcher and the subsequent protests, TheWrap looks back at the people who expressed their grievances on social media during the Dallas shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling and the demonstrations that followed. Here are 9 individuals whose voices were heard -- and who got in trouble for it.
Nate Weekley, a Detroit detective, was demoted to officer after posting on Facebook that "the only racists here are the piece of s--- Black Lives Matter terrorists and their supporters," reported the Detroit News.

The Daily Mail reported that Weekley's brother, Joseph Weekley, was a cop who was charged with involuntary manslaughter after accidentally killing a 7-year-old black girl during a raid.
Facebook
The first black Miss Alabama, Kalyn Chapman, was placed on administrative leave from her job at a South Florida PBS station after she posted a video in which she called the Dallas sniper a "martyr."

Also Read: Former Miss Alabama Calls Dallas Sniper ‘Martyr,’ Suspended From TV Gig (Video)

In her video she stated: "I'm dealing with a bit of guilt" because "I value human life. And I want to feel sad for them, but I can't help but feeling like the shooter was a martyr."

TheWrap
She later told news outlet WPMI that what the shooter did "was wrong, period," adding, "maybe martyr wasn’t the right word but it was what came to mind at that time.”
Fox
Charles Beau Menefee lost his job as a news producer at CBS46 in Atlanta after a slew of Facebook posts, including one in which he said "it would be cool if someone rained gunfire down on to the ignorant human turds at the next #blacklivesmatter March."
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A South Carolina fire captain, Jimmy Morris, was fired after saying that he was going to run over Black Lives Matter protestors on Facebook, The State newspaper said. The Miami Herald reported that two other firefighters were fired in association with Morris' post.
Facebook
An Overland Park, Kansas police officer was fired after posting a menacing comment on a woman's Facebook photo, according to local channel KCTV.

Also Read: What is Black Lives Matter? A Short Explainer
KCTV
A North Carolina deputy, Andrew Sutton, was suspended after joking on Facebook about killing people and calling Black Lives Matter followers "ignorant blind sheep."
ABC13
A Tennessee deputy, Jeremy McNary, was suspended after saying Black Lives Matter protestors should be hosed for blocking a highway, according to the New York Daily News.
Facebook
McNary's uncle told the Daily News that his nephew had served in the Marines and that he is not a racist nor bad cop, referencing a time he saved a child from drowning.
New York Daily News/Facebook
Diane Amoratis, a Jefferson Health employee, condemned Black Lives Matter protestors and praised police for dealing with a "fat, braided hair, piece of s--- troublemaker..." Philly.com reported. She added that a BLM protest should have been "bulldozed."

Jefferson Health ended up posting that "the individual is no longer at Jefferson."
Philly.com
Sgt. Derek Hale, a Louisville corrections sergeant was suspended after posting a contentious Facebook meme, according to WDRB. It featured an officer with the words: "If we really wanted you dead all we’d have to do is stop patrolling your neighborhoods... and wait."

Hale's caption read: "Ha … truth."

Also Read: What Is ‘All Lives Matter’? A Short Explainer
WDRB

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BLM opponents suffered consequences for airing grievances after the protests

In light of the recent fatal shootings of Keith L. Scott and Terence Crutcher and the subsequent protests, TheWrap looks back at the people who expressed their grievances on social media during the Dallas shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling and the demonstrations that followed. Here are 9 individuals whose voices were heard -- and who got in trouble for it.

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9 People Fired or Suspended for Black Lives Matter Comments (Photos)

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