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The cold-blooded killing of Stephon Clark sparked the city of Sacramento

black lives matter March 23, 2018
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Imagine running through your neighborhood, racing against the clock trying to make it home before the streetlights come on. You take out your cell phone to call your grandma, letting her know that you made it home safely.

Completely unaware as you venture through multiple neighboring backyards en route to your crib, the police is tracking your every move. Police units are following you by helicopter, directing ground traffic for the officers hunting you.

As you stand on your back porch with your phone in your hand, someone yells out, “Stop! Show me your hands!” You begin to panic thinking, “What the f*ck is going on?!”

You have no clue if it’s someone trying to rob you. You don’t know if it’s the police. You don’t know if it’s your friends trying to scare you.

What do you do? Next thing you know, 20 shots ring off and your body is lying on the ground –– lifeless, in cold blood.

That’s the harsh reality that Stephon Clark had to face. That’s the fear Black families have to face every day when their loved ones exit their home.

He was only 22 and had two children. As sad as it is, Clark is now added to the long list of the many other unarmed Black men and women in the United States who had their lives taken from them by police force.

Demonstrators were out in full force Thursday night wanting justice for Clark. Packed in front of the Sacramento Kings stadium, protesters were peacefully protesting.

The Golden 1 Center entrance was blocked by protesters. Banded in each others arms, they repeated “black lives matter.” The Sacramento Police Department shut-down further admission into the game, sending thousands of fans home. In a statement from the Kings:

“Due to law enforcement being unable to ensure ticketed fans could safely enter the arena, the arena remains closed and we ask fans outside to travel home,”

Just look at the scene from inside the arena right before tip off. Nobody was able to get in.

Kings owner, Vivek Ranadivé, let those who are hurting over the fatal death of Clark know that they have his full support.

With the entire Kings roster and coaching staff by his side, he not only acknowledged the injustice happening in their community but vowed to help make a difference.

The unfortunate shooting that lead to Stephon Clark’s death happened last Sunday, March, 18. It’s easy to say Clark should have complied, but if not aware of what’s going on how could he?

Clark wasn’t doing anything wrong as he was frolicking his way home. He wasn’t running from the police. Even if he was running from the police, evading arrest in California is only a misdemeanor, meaning not punishable by death.

Not only was Clark just chilling, minding his own business, he was on his own property.  However, it was dark as hell outside and both parties involved could not identify each other.

The cops saw a young Black man with a white iPhone. Within three seconds of being told “show me your hands” 20 bullets are flying through the air. Only after Clark has been shot dead is when they identify themselves as the police.

Our society has become desensitized to watching Blacks be slain by the hands of our police officers. Even when African-Americans do comply, death is still an outcome.

In 2018, it’s almost as if it’s legal to kill Black people. Shout out to the city of Sacramento for fighting for Stephon’s justice.

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