Cyrus Langhorne
The shocking and latest instance of police brutality against unarmed Sacramento black man Stephon Clark turned into a national topic last night as protestors made their presence felt outside of an NBA arena.
Protesters and Black Lives Matter supporters alike teamed up Thursday (March 22) to make a public statement directed at law enforcement outside of the Sacramento Kings’ Golden1 Center.
The game between the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks started Thursday after a 19-minute delay due to protesters who were locked arm-in-arm surrounding entrances to Golden1 Center. Only a few hundred fans made it into the Golden1 Center before police decided to not allow anyone else to enter and several of those who did get in moved down into the lower bowl of the arena, leaving the upper deck empty. (CBS News)
Stevonte Clark rallying protesters chanting his brother Stephon Clark’s brother’s name. Said he is proud of Sacramento protesters response today. pic.twitter.com/LgizzHP38i
— stevelarge (@largesteven) March 23, 2018
The arena’s main entrance right now. Crowd looks like a mix of protestors and @SacramentoKings fans. pic.twitter.com/GpxWphHuOp
— Nashelly Chavez (@nashellytweets) March 23, 2018
Protesters made sure to let the media know Clark’s death ignited the movement.
Protesters chanted “Shut it down,” as they lined outside the arena’s entrance, with some holding Black Lives Matter banners, the Bee said, and arena security personnel locked entrances to the center and abandoned equipment outside. “Stephon couldn’t be here to watch a game,” Brrazey Liberty, a musician and reported Black Lives Matter activist said, per the Bee. “These people aren’t going to be here to watch this game.” (Newsmax)
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976996392282419200
The publicized protest even sparked a televised response from Kings owner Vivek Randivé who addressed the Clark slaying.
Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Randivé took the microphone after the game to address the circumstances under which the game was played and the tragedy which preceded it. pic.twitter.com/OTKC2Zdqmg
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) March 23, 2018
Last night’s protests stemmed from the horrific fatal shooting of Stephon Clark by Sacramento police officers Sunday night outside of his grandparents home.
The officers on the ground eventually found Clark in the backyard and told him to show his hands. Seconds later, they fired their weapons 10 times each. The Sacramento Police Department says the officers believed Clark was pointing a gun at them. No firearm was found at the scene, instead, Clark died with a cellphone in his hands. (SacBee)
