THE MORNING FORMER police officer Jason Stockley was found not guilty of the premeditated first-degree murder of Anthony Lamar Smith, the St. Louis justice community was ready.
We had learned many lessons since 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed by a white police officer on the streets of nearby Ferguson three years earlier. The formal protests after Brown’s killing lasted more than 400 days—but the movement grew through courageous conversations about race, class, and the use of racial profiling. Our synagogue provided sanctuary for protesters and joined with other religious communities in the deep work of justice and healing. We registered voters and supported African Americans and allies for elected office who would prioritize key issues: demilitarizing police, improving police training and accountability, breaking the school-to-prison pipeline, challenging mass incarceration, and dismantling systemic white supremacy.
As the Stockley verdict drew near, we announced that our congregation would again be a sanctuary for protesters. In addition, we gathered with clergy to prepare for our role as supporters and de-escalators when protests started.
Our synagogue, Central Reform Congregation, was founded 33 years ago to be a presence in St. Louis, which was losing its last Jewish congregation to white flight. We have taken our role in the city seriously. Today we are a racially and economically integrated Jewish community that has earned its place at the table of fighting racial disparities in our community by showing up.
The Ferguson uprising drew clergy into the streets. We showed up, listened, and took supporting roles to earn the trust of the young leaders. We learned that our buildings have a role. Central Reform Congregation became a designated sanctuary, along with many other churches in the region. We recruited volunteers to stay through the night, stocked the kitchen with water and snacks, set up phone-recharging stations, and laid in supplies to respond to tear gas and pepper spray. We made a commitment that law enforcement looking for protesters would not be allowed into our building without a warrant.
On Friday, Sept. 15, Officer Stockley was found not guilty in the murder of Anthony Lamar Smith. I asked the church across the street if they would open their doors early because our congregation would be in prayer until 9 p.m. for Shabbat services. As our worship concluded we saw hundreds of peaceful protesters marching down our street. We met their chants with cheers.
In a moment, everything changed. Scores of police in military garb surrounded the crowd, firing tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. With nowhere to go, protesters poured into our synagogue and the neighboring church. We pulled them in and promised to keep them safe. Concern over property damage may have prompted the aggressive police response, but in our sanctuary, the protesters were our guests and were treated with respect.
Hate groups seized this opportunity to stir up more violence, challenging the police to violate the sanctuary and “gas the synagogue.” This truly horrifying slogan began circulating as a hashtag on Twitter, along with other racist and anti-Jewish statements.
On the day Stockley was acquitted, the frontline resistance this time included elected officials. The growing resistance continues to put economic pressure on the region. Demands for police accountability have dramatically increased—including among business owners and white allies—especially considering the lawsuits following the excessive use of tear gas and brutal arrests of more than 300 nonviolent protesters.
The night peaceful protesters filled our street and faced violent backlash was the night our space truly became a sacred sanctuary, a shelter of peace, reclaiming the relevance of our institution and making real our prayers for justice.
Susan Talve is the founding rabbi of Central Reform Congregation, the only Jewish congregation in St. Louis.
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