State lawmaker among protesters arrested on Black Friday

Missouri state Rep. Bruce Franks Jr. (D) was among several protesters arrested at a suburban St. Louis mall on Black Friday. 

The protests, which were part of an economic boycott, kicked off around 2 p.m. local time at the St. Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Protesters marched through the mall, chanting “shut it down” before police announced they would be making arrests around 2:25 p.m.

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Franks questioned officers when they moved to arrest a person, and he was thrown to the ground, according to the Post-Dispatch.

Missouri State Rep. @brucefranksjr arrested during #BlackFriday protest at Galleria. #STL #STLverdict pic.twitter.com/VXxJymNj1m

— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) November 24, 2017

Franks was participating in an economic boycott effort announced by African-American clergy and activists over various issues, including the treatment of African-Americans in bank loan practices. 

Franks was reportedly released with three other people by 7 p.m.

The Hill has reached out to Franks’ office for comment.