Shocking new video of police killing Alton Sterling sparks protests, outrage
The shocking and graphic video of Baton Rouge police officers killing African-American Alton Sterling has sparked outrage across the country and protests in the streets of Louisiana’s capital.
Warning: Graphic video
He really shot #AltonSterling while he was being held down. Alton needs justice.https://t.co/xcXFmPk0K0pic.twitter.com/lm4xWHreUe
— MACE Entertainment (@MACE_Latest) July 6, 2016
Sterling was shot dead while pinned to the ground by police. Officers say they were called to a convenience store after an anonymous caller claimed a man selling CDs had threatened him with a gun.
Only reason #AltonSterling isn't on CNN rn is because they're probably still looking for a photo of him with a gun. pic.twitter.com/i6z64m6rlb
— Shanell (@PhattieBey) July 6, 2016
#AltonSterling so they shot him because they found a gun in his pocket but white people can walk around like this? pic.twitter.com/wlw4ABrkjG
— isela (@iselasux666) July 6, 2016
Let's go ahead and put this out here before they photoshop a pic of him with a blunt on his mouth. #AltonSterlingpic.twitter.com/hGkYoncSS3
— Deric Muhammad (@DericMuhammad) July 6, 2016
The store’s owner Abdul Muflahi told local station WAFB Sterling was tased by one officer and tackled by another before he was shot “four to six times.”
Muflahi said Sterling was not holding a gun at the time, but that he saw officers remove a gun from his pocket after he was shot.
The 37-year-old man was dead before paramedics arrived at the scene.
Under Louisiana law, the officers who killed #AltonSterling can wait 30 days before being questioned. pic.twitter.com/DLDuhcJSlv
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) July 6, 2016
The Department of Justice civil rights division will take lead of the investigation, according to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.
“I have very serious concerns. The video is very disturbing to say the least,” he said. The governor said that he doesn't know the race of the officers. “I think the video speaks for itself as to the race of the two officers,” he said.
Protesters took to the streets of Baton Rouge last night chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “No justice, no peace.” Speaking to The Advocate, one protester said he came out because he felt frustrated, saying "Once it starts hitting where you live, you start feeling the fear."
People in Baton Rouge taking to the streets in response to the shooting of #altonsterlingpic.twitter.com/OavspeoMra
— Quencie (@StudioQTV) July 6, 2016
Protestors now parking in street to block traffic, raising fiats & chanting "black lives matter" #AltonSterlingpic.twitter.com/aGu463ZTN4
— Bryn Stole (@BrynStole) July 6, 2016
Twitter and Facebook was also flooded with grief and anger including Anonymous and prominent black artists who have been outspoken on the issue of police violence.
#Anonymous#BadCop Murders Alton Sterling in cold blood #NoJusticeNoPeace@AnonymousPresshttps://t.co/84g43vVzl3
— AnonymousBC (@AnonymousBC1) July 6, 2016
Of all the bulsht you cover HOW IS THE ALTON STERLING murder NOT Breaking News NOW CNN? - , Latest News and Videos https://t.co/8sNkVzzkyw
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 6, 2016
How many more times must this happen for us to matter? How many more must we lose?
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 6, 2016
BLACK. LIVES. MATTER. #AltonSterling
A rally is planned for outside city hall on Wednesday morning.
Speaking at the press conference, Gov. Edwards called on community to remain peaceful.
"Destruction of property is not the answer," he said. " We already have one family torn apart."
The white man ARRESTED for killing 9 ppl & the black man KILLED for selling cds.No peace. No justice #AltonSterlingpic.twitter.com/MqiW0NkX72
— ️️️️️ ️️️️️ ️️️️️ (@wocgrande) July 6, 2016
If you're trying to justify a cop shooting #AltonSterling point blank in the head like that, your humanity is in serious question. Just stop
— Dena Takruri (@Dena) July 6, 2016
#AltonSterling wasn't killed for selling CDs. He was lynched for being black.
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) July 6, 2016