Singer Ed Sheeran canceled an upcoming concert in downtown St. Louis after protesters descended on the city to oppose the acquittal of a white police offer in the fatal shooting of a black man.
Sheeran was scheduled to perform to a sold-out crowd at the Scottrade Center on Sunday. But the singer’s tour promoter announced Saturday the show would be canceled after police warned they couldn’t promise the level of security typical of concerts at the venue due to the ongoing demonstrations.
The band U2 canceled its performance in St. Louis on Saturday for the same reason.
Hundreds of people descended on St. Louis and its suburbs over the weekend to protest St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley’s acquittal.
Stockley shot and killed 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith in 2011, and a judge ruled Friday the police officer was innocent.
Though the protests began peacefully Friday, they turned violent after protesters threw rocks at the St. Louis mayor’s house Friday night. Demonstrators also smashed the windshield of a police car.
Police used tear gas to break up the protests, and more than 23 people were arrested.
