feature photo via Fox 46 Charlotte
Last week it was #TyreKing, a young Black boy shot by police for reportedly stealing $10 and wielding a toy gun. This week, more police violence in Tulsa and Charlotte. Is there never a day when communities of color aren’t fighting for their right to live? In 2016 America, it doesn’t seem like it. More often than not, police abuse their roles of power to terrorize communities of color. This week has unfortunately been no different.
https://twitter.com/osope/status/778439565119852544
On Monday, Tulsa, OK police distributed video of one of their officers fatally shooting an unarmed Black man. On Friday evening, around 8 p.m.,Terrance Crutcher, 40, could be seen in the video walking away with his hands in the air as up to 3 police officers trail him with their guns drawn. Police officers approached Crutcher because his car had broken down. While Crutcher’s family is calling for justice, the officer who shot Crutcher is on paid administrative leave.
Activists in the streets and online have rallied together against police brutality in Tulsa. Hundreds of protestors gathered at the police station on Tuesday demanding the immediate firing of the officer who shot Crutcher. The video of Crutcher’s death circulated widely throughout the internet. Activists encouraged people of color to take care of themselves when watching them, some citing studies discussing the correlation between these specific kinds of violent viral videos and PTSD.
Take care of yourself people. Resist traumatizing yourselves with these videos.
— Sister Outsider (@FeministGriote) September 21, 2016
In Charlotte, hundreds of protestors were able to stop traffic across I-85 on Tuesday around 1:45 am in response to Charlotte Police Department fatally shooting an unarmed Black man named Keith Lamont Scott. Stories on Twitter relay the message that Scott had been sitting in his car reading a book and waiting to pick up his children after school when he was shot, although Charlotte Police Department say that they uncovered a gun at the site.
Stop killing Black people. Stop killing Black people. Stop killing Black people. Stop killing Black people. Stop killing Black people.
— outside agitator (@ntranloan) September 21, 2016
The highway protests were only part of a lot of action that had and still is occurring in Charlotte. The same night protestors stopped traffic, others were downtown demanding justice. Police in riot gear began attempting to control the protestors who they now deemed “aggressive” according to the Charlotte Observer.
We show up and gather in public spaces for those who grieve. #thisiswhatcommunitylookslike #rally4equityclt #KeithLamontScott
— Sadie Primus (@SadiePrimus) September 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/divafeminist/status/778557237115625472
https://twitter.com/reinagossett/status/778700632052031491
Protestors have still been out and in the city into Wednesday evening. From queer activists friends on the ground in Charlotte reporting on Facebook, I’m hearing stories that the police are using tear gas, shooting protestors with rubber bullets, and the media have confirmed that police officers have shot and a protestor in the head who is in critical condition. The Southern Vision Alliance is collecting money and other donations to aid the protestors.
https://twitter.com/osope/status/778440130252070912
Communities of color, many of them including queer people are grieving once again at the violence and brutality of the police. All across the country, people are protesting against white supremacy and its dangers. In a system built on the enslavement, poor treatment, and erasure of communities of color. It’s not surprising, and yet it’s always still devastating.
