In America, the disturbing reports of some young, unarmed Black man killed by police has become a cliche in these days and times. The entire premise of the NFL protests and other forms of honoring slain victims of police violence was to bring light to the rash of unarmed men of color being shot and killed by police officers over the past decade.
The latest police incidentoccurred in Sacramento, where a 22-year-old man, Stephon Clark was fatally shot by police for having a cell phone in his hand. Initially, the cops reported that he had a toolbar. We have heard cops use this excuse for decades. He had a weapon, so we shot him.
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The 22-year-old black man fatally shot by Sacramento police in his own backyard Sunday night was carrying a cellphone, not a “tool bar,” when confronted by officers, the department clarified late Monday.” https://t.co/t4Nh7YnH7I
Via Sacramento Bee:
The 22-year-old black man fatally shot by Sacramento police in his own backyard Sunday night was carrying a cellphone, not a “toolbar,” when confronted by officers, the department clarified late Monday.
Stephon Clark was killed in the backyard of the south Sacramento home he shared with his grandmother, grandfather and some siblings, his 25-year-old brother Stevante Clark said Monday. The police department said officers were responding to a call of a person breaking car windows nearby.
Police said they believed Clark was armed with a gun, though no firearm was found at the scene. Police said instead Clark had a “object” that he “extended in front of him” while advancing towards two officers.
Black men being targets of foul police play is nothing new. Police claiming that a black suspect had a weapon and blowing his head off is also an old hat. It didnt start with Trayvon Martin in 2012 getting shot by a racist, rogue rent-a-cop.
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Today would have been Trayvon Martin’s 23rd birthday. Rest in power.
Or Laquan McDonald in 2014 and Akai Gurley in 2014. Or Sandra Bland and Freddie Gray in 2015. And it sure hasnt ended since Philando Castile and Terence Crutcher were stolen from their families by police in 2016.
We could mention a laundry list of other names, but well focus on the ones that received national attention because they were caught on video. These blatant murders make you question the value of a young, black life in a country that has supposedly made great strides in racism and oppression of minorities over the decades.
Its 2018 and young black men are still being murdered by police officers for nothing. No one wants their children growing up in a society where the unjustified killings of unarmed black males become par for the course. It may be too late, as most of the killer cops are found not guilty by a judge and jury who devalue the life of slain, innocent black men as well. Even after this latest killing, there are people in this country that will swear they don’t understand why NFL players are protesting.
Rallies and national debate is sure to follow as another black man was viciously gunned down by police, this time in the backyard of his home.
When will the madness stop? Not anytime soon, unfortunately. As long as cops kill young brothers and are found not guilty of obvious and egregious racist acts of terror, then the police departments will continue to feel that they cant be held accountable and our government and country will continue to share the same wicked sentiment.
