Heavily armed men, including a man with a bazooka, marched alongside anti-police protestors in Missouri after a black man was run over by a white cop.
The so-called “People’s Protection Group” arrived in Florrisant Tuesday with a heavy arsenal of weapons to protect people following ongoing clashes with police.
Many in the group, clad in military-style clothing, arrived with AR-style rifles — while one had a bazooka slung across his body.
They were seen talking to cops and protest organizers — with the bazooka-carrying man joining the march and raising his fist in solidarity.
The protests started in early June after video showed a then-detective, Joshua Smith, hitting a black suspect with his SUV during an arrest, then chasing and attacking him.
A heavily armed man walks with protesters during a demonstration against police brutality in Florissant, Missouri.Getty ImagesSmith was fired after he was charged with felony assault, felony armed criminal action and misdemeanor assault. His attorney says it was an accident.
Protesters are also calling for the firing of the other two officers involved, both of whom were cleared of any wrongdoing — with the marches becoming “more aggressive and confrontational,” Florissant police said.
On Saturday, more than a dozen arrests were made as protesters “began throwing frozen water bottles, glass bottles, batteries and rocks at officers,” who fired Mace and bean bags, police said.
Four more arrests were made Monday night, with police also sharing graffiti allegedly left by protesters.
With Post wires
