The family of a black man shot multiple times by police during a confrontation at a Louisiana convenience store called for an independent investigation and officials to resign in the wake of video showing the chilling incident.
Graphic footage circulating online filmed by a witness early Tuesday appears to show Alton Sterling, 37, being shot as two cops pin him to the ground.His death has sparked protests against police brutality in Baton Rouge, and family members and the local NAACP branch called for Louisiana State Police to take over the review from the Baton Rouge Police Department.
Quinyetta Mcmillon, the mother of Sterling’s 15-year-old son, said officers handled the incident “unjustly,” and told reporters Wednesday that they killed a man who was “simply trying to earn a living and take care of his children.”
“I, for one, will not rest or not allow him to be swept in the dirt,” Mcmillon said as Sterling’s son sobbed behind her.
Beyoncé has released a powerful statement today on her website, after the recent police killings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philandro Castile in St. Paul.
She said the Black community doesn’t need sympathy - they want respect for Black lives.
“We’re going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violent action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished.”
She ends with a call to action to contact legislators and politicians and this message: “Your voice will be heard.”
Would you be scared, angry and downright outraged if your son was 4 times more likely to be executed walking down the street than his white counterpart? I would. They are, they should be. #BlackLivesMatter
In 2016, Alton was selling CDs when police officers Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni confronted him due to an anonymous call reporting that a CD seller wearing a red shirt was threatening people with a gun. Within 20 seconds of arriving on the scene,one of the officers drew his gun, pointed it at Alton’s head, and yelled, “Don’t fucking move or I’ll shoot your fucking ass, bitch.” When Alton asked what he did wrong, officers tasered him, tackled him to the ground, and pinned him on his back. Despite rendering him immobile, an officer shouted, “He’s got a gun!” and at least one of them opened fire at point-blank range, shooting him fatally 6 times. Salamoni was fired but neither officer was charged. (Baton Rouge, LA)
‘Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us – Black, white, everyone – no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets.’ — Michelle Obama
You can use preset email templates calling for justice for Alton Sterling and over 100 other cases at our website!
