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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ferguson: 19-year-old student stands in front of police to 'protect' them from protesters | Ferguson: 19-year-old student stands in front of police to 'protect' them from protesters |
| (5 months later) | |
| A 19-year-old student photographed standing between police and protesters in Ferguson has said she wanted to “protect” the officers. | A 19-year-old student photographed standing between police and protesters in Ferguson has said she wanted to “protect” the officers. |
| Lexi Kozhevsky took to the streets overnight as demonstrations continued to mark the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. | Lexi Kozhevsky took to the streets overnight as demonstrations continued to mark the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. |
| She was seen standing alone in front of dozens of police wearing body armour, facing protesters. | She was seen standing alone in front of dozens of police wearing body armour, facing protesters. |
| Lynden Steele, the St Louis Post-Dispatch’s director of photography, quoted her as saying: “I would rather get hit by something than let it hit them.” | Lynden Steele, the St Louis Post-Dispatch’s director of photography, quoted her as saying: “I would rather get hit by something than let it hit them.” |
| A small minority of protesters were seen hurling missiles including frozen bottles of water at police, who called the crowd “unruly”. | A small minority of protesters were seen hurling missiles including frozen bottles of water at police, who called the crowd “unruly”. |
| “Safety, our top priority, is now compromised,” a spokesperson for the St Louis County Police Department wrote on Twitter. | “Safety, our top priority, is now compromised,” a spokesperson for the St Louis County Police Department wrote on Twitter. |
| “This is no longer a peaceful protest. Participants are now unlawfully assembled.” | “This is no longer a peaceful protest. Participants are now unlawfully assembled.” |
| In a Snapchat video posted online, Ms Kozhevsky said she wanted to protect the officers. | In a Snapchat video posted online, Ms Kozhevsky said she wanted to protect the officers. |
| She said: “Look guys, discrimination is a thing and I get it but we need to stay with the people who protect us and that’s what I’m doing. I want to protect my police.” | She said: “Look guys, discrimination is a thing and I get it but we need to stay with the people who protect us and that’s what I’m doing. I want to protect my police.” |
| The teenager, who studies nursing at St Louis University, told The Blaze that she believes “not all cops are bad” and that violent protests were not the way forward. | The teenager, who studies nursing at St Louis University, told The Blaze that she believes “not all cops are bad” and that violent protests were not the way forward. |
| Ms Kozhevsky said officers questioned her after she moved in front of them but let her stay after she said she was aware of the possible danger. | Ms Kozhevsky said officers questioned her after she moved in front of them but let her stay after she said she was aware of the possible danger. |
| “I was prepared for the worst,” she added. | “I was prepared for the worst,” she added. |
| “It was scary. People were looking at me and making gestures. It was unnerving, to say the least. But sometimes you just have to stand your ground.” | “It was scary. People were looking at me and making gestures. It was unnerving, to say the least. But sometimes you just have to stand your ground.” |
| A photo of her went viral on Twitter, provoking strong responses from people following the events in Ferguson. | A photo of her went viral on Twitter, provoking strong responses from people following the events in Ferguson. |
| Some contrasted her treatment to that of a black girl who was photographed being arrested. Online commentators claimed she was 12 but St Louis police later confirmed she was 18 after viewing her identification card. | Some contrasted her treatment to that of a black girl who was photographed being arrested. Online commentators claimed she was 12 but St Louis police later confirmed she was 18 after viewing her identification card. |
| “Lexi's allowed to occupy the street because of whiteness,” one person claimed. | “Lexi's allowed to occupy the street because of whiteness,” one person claimed. |
| “Other protesters have been forcibly removed from such spaces in Ferguson.” | “Other protesters have been forcibly removed from such spaces in Ferguson.” |
| Many people were critical of Ms Kozhevsky, saying her actions were unnecessary to protect “officers in full riot gear”. | Many people were critical of Ms Kozhevsky, saying her actions were unnecessary to protect “officers in full riot gear”. |
| But others praised her actions and told her to “stay strong” in the face of online abuse. | |
| “I'm in awe at her courage,” one supporter wrote on Twitter, while others urged critics to “cut her some slack” and focus on bigger issues. | “I'm in awe at her courage,” one supporter wrote on Twitter, while others urged critics to “cut her some slack” and focus on bigger issues. |
| At least 23 people were arrested during Monday night’s protests, which saw officers in riot gear force protesters off the streets with shields and use pepper spray. | At least 23 people were arrested during Monday night’s protests, which saw officers in riot gear force protesters off the streets with shields and use pepper spray. |
| A state of emergency was declared by authorities in Ferguson after several police officers shot a man in what they said was an exchange of gunfire on Sunday night. He is in a critical condition. | A state of emergency was declared by authorities in Ferguson after several police officers shot a man in what they said was an exchange of gunfire on Sunday night. He is in a critical condition. |
| The latest unrest comes a year after Mr Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot dead in the St Louis suburb by a white officer, sparking angry protests that ignited anger over police treatment of ethnic minorities throughout the US. | The latest unrest comes a year after Mr Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot dead in the St Louis suburb by a white officer, sparking angry protests that ignited anger over police treatment of ethnic minorities throughout the US. |