You just can’t make this stuff up. An initial meeting to discuss the possibility of a citizen review board had to be cancelled because the Ferguson “FTP” protestors break out in a violent chamber rampage… Massive Irony = The police had to be called to restore order.
ST. LOUIS • An open meeting at City Hall on the creation of a civilian oversight board of the police department devolved into a melee on Wednesday night, further exposing the city’s deep divisions over race and law enforcement.

The meeting held by the aldermanic public safety committee, designed to seek public comment, lasted over an hour with little event as residents ticked off the pros and cons of having a civilian board to review police conduct and procedures.
But the crowd became unsettled when police officers began testifying in opposition to the bill. At times, Alderman Terry Kennedy, who chairs the committee, struggled to keep order. The noise in the room spiked as police officers attempted to testify.
At that point, Jeff Roorda, the business manager of the city’s police union, stood and called for order. Roorda was wearing a wristband in support of police officer Darren Wilson, a former Ferguson police officer whose fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown last summer sparked months of civic unrest.

After Roorda stood up, the crowd grew louder.
“Excuse me, first of all, you do not tell me my function,” responded Kennedy, who has championed the issue of civilian review for more than a decade.
Standing in the aldermanic hearing room packed with people shoulder-to-shoulder beneath a ceiling painted with allegorical images of Western democracy, Roorda shouted back at Kennedy.
Others began yelling, then pushing and shoving as officers struggled to maintain control. Some in the crowd scrambled to leave the packed room that has only two exits.
The commotion lasted for about 15 minutes until order was restored.

[WARNING ON LANGUAGE – FERGUSON PROTESTORS]

Kennedy attempted to resume the meeting, but it was futile in the tense room. He ended the hearing shortly after it resumed.
“A good situation went bad,” Alderman Jeffrey Boyd said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t get through this.”
Alderman Joe Vaccaro said the situation represents the city’s “deep divisions.”
Kennedy said the sole purpose of the hearing was to get public input — which it did.
“This isn’t easy,” Kennedy said. “There will be disagreements. These things have simmered for a long time.”
Kennedy had asked both supporters and opponents to refrain from applause throughout the night. Things became more heated as some protesters pointed out Roorda in the crowd and the wristband he was wearing.
“We spent the night hearing from anti-police radicals,” Roorda said. “We hear from two police officers and he (Kennedy) lets the place go wild.”
Protesters accused Roorda of starting the melee by pushing a woman. They demanded his arrest after the meeting.
Roorda said he became surrounded and people were grabbing at his ankles.
No one was arrested or appeared seriously injured. (read more)
ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Wednesday night was supposed to be the first meeting for a proposed civilian police oversight board for the City of St. Louis. But instead of an orderly meeting, the meeting descended into chaos with participants shouting, yelling and shoving one another.
St. Louis police officers were called to help restore order.  Order was restored, but the meeting was cancelled, to be rescheduled at a later date. (read more)
The FTP crowd tried to say Jeff Roorda (Police Union Representative) started the riot, however it is clear the crowd actually set upon him including a lady who swung her elbow at him provoking Roorda to grab her arm.
Super Slo-Mo: