U2 cancels their stadium St. Louis show due to the riots that have arisen following the acquittal of a police officer charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an African-American man. The stadium show is closed following news from the Police chief that "standard protection" for the audience wouldn't be able to be promised. The protests have resulted in the injury of 10 officers and 23 arrests were made within hours of Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson's final pronouncement that Jason Stockley, St. Louis Metropolitan Police officer was not guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Judge Wilson oversaw the jury-less bench trial.
"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 published on U2's website.
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U2?src=hash">#U2</a> tour director promises show will be 'emotional, inspiring, exciting' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U2TheJoshuaTree?src=hash">#U2TheJoshuaTree</a> St. Louis MO <a href="https://twitter.com/U2">@u2</a>… <a href="https://t.co/aCyofOzFvD">https://t.co/aCyofOzFvD</a></p>
— Bono Street Team (@bonostreetteam) <a href="https://twitter.com/bonostreetteam/status/908690817702756353">September 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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"We have also been informed that local crowd security personnel would not be at full capacity. 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."
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Earlier on Friday, men were seen holding rifles as they walk down with a group of protesters in … <a href="https://t.co/49BIrv4Z5e">https://t.co/49BIrv4Z5e</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/MailOnline">@MailOnline</a></p>
— Fuzzytop (@egopanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/egopanthers/status/909160466118844419">September 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4891152/U2-cancels-St-Louis-concert-Stockley-protests.html#ixzz4stKJVOug">Ed Sheeran has announced</a>, he too will join U2 in canceling his scheduled St. Louis concert this weekend over fears that attendees' lives could be put in danger. 300 protestors shut down a mall, officers with broken jaws and dislocated shoulders, stashed caches of guns, dumpster fires, even houses set on fire. Even the mayor's house was raided and these are just highlights of the madness to date.
Ticketholders for the Sheeran and U2 shows will be able to claim a refund. This can be done online or at the venue from which they were purchased. Mayor Lyda Krewson, who had to literally flee the pursuing protestors, released the following statement:
"Our officers have been very tolerant and have used great restraint, however, this evening we've had some incidents."
Ticketholders will be able to claim a refund online or at their place of purchase, they added.
