If you go into St louis without a gun you deserve what you get.
I would not get near East St Louis these days. I drove from FT Bragg, NC to Omaha for college in 70-72. I stopped in ST. Louis to buy a new Corvette as they made them there then. I made the mistake of stopping on the East side of the river at a Holiday Inn. I checked in and there was a black clerk by himself at the desk. I thought nothing about that and laid down and got up about 8 PM and headed for the bar. I opened the door and left fast. I was the only White person in that entire place. I left at 5 AM for Plake Chevrolet on South Kings highway.