Photo Courtesy of ABC News
Increase of Black Lives Matter protests
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Many have gathered in streets to protest the shootings of African Americans by law enforcement. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, a unification of people who are against the shootings of black people by law enforcement, wreaked chaos and havoc on the streets across the nation.
In Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 21, BLM advocates took to the street after Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by police on Sept. 20. Officers present at the shooting claimed that Scott had a joint and firearm in his possession. Bystanders say otherwise, and that he was complying with the officer’s commands.
The protests in Charlotte took a turn for the worse, as riots broke out and looters began breaking into stores. After two nights of violent protests, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney requested assistance from the state. On Sept. 21, Governor Pat McCrory of N.C. declared a State of Emergency at around 11 p.m. in compliance, sending in the National Guard to assist local law enforcement and Highway State Patrol.
“Upon a recent request of Chief Putney, the National Guard and State Highway Patrol are sending in resources to further help the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department,” McCrory said. “Any violence directed toward our citizens or police officers or destruction of property should not be tolerated. I support and commend the law enforcement officials for their bravery and courage during this difficult situation.”
The riots started breaking out and storming the downtown area, resulting in police using tear gas to clear the area. As a result of the chaos, a man was shot by a civilian and presumed dead, but later found alive and in critical condition. However, many protesters believed that law enforcement opened fire. This increased the outrage towards local law enforcement. BLM protesters came together and chanted, “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!”
Protests also sparked in Los Angeles, Calif. as an officer shot and killed Carnell Snell Jr. on Oct. 2 after pursuing a believed stolen vehicle with paper license plates. The Los Angeles Police Department had said they found a firearm at the scene of the arrest.
A protest was held in south Los Angeles as a response. The protest lasted through the night and another was planned for the following night.
