Showing posts with label Stephon Clark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephon Clark. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

California police shooting law propelled by Stephon Clark’s death signed into law

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed what it is believed to be one of the toughest laws in the country regulating when police officers can use use deadly force.

The signing of Assembly Bill 392 concludes a legislative battle between law enforcement lobbyists and civil rights groups who, until May, could not agree on how strict the state’s deadly force law should be.

It was shaped by a string of deadly encounters between law enforcement officers and unarmed black men, including the March 2018 shooting of Stephon Clark by Sacramento police. Clark’s death shook the city, with a protest shutting down Interstate 5 one evening and another march leading to mass arrests in East Sacramento this spring.

During the ceremony, Newsom said AB 392 will reduce the number of lives lost by deadly force.

The law “stretches the boundaries of possibility and sends a message to people all across the country that they can do more,” he said. “Training matters, yes. Accountability matters, certainly. Transparency, indeed. But culture. Changing hearts changing minds, changing our approach to dealing with one another.”

The new standard instructs officers to use lethal force only when it is “necessary” based on the totality of circumstances they encounter. That’s considered a stricter standard than today’s practice, which instructs police that they can use deadly force when it is “reasonable” to do so.

The legislation also requires evaluating an officer’s conduct before and after deadly force is used and it emphasizes deescalation tactics as effective alternatives to pulling a trigger.

Read more: California police shooting law propelled by Stephon Clark’s death wins Newsom’s signature.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

NAACP CALLS FOR JUSTICE IN STEPHON CLARK CASE



NAACP President and CEO Derrick johnson released the following statement on the Sacramento District Attorney's decision  not to charge the police officers responsible for the killing of Stephon Clark:

The nation’s foremost civil rights organization joins its NAACP Sacramento Branch in condemning Sacramento District Attorney Marie Schubert’s decision to not charge Sacramento Police officers Terrence Mercadel and Jared Robinet with murder for the killing of 22 year old Stephon Clark –an unarmed father and husband.
“The decision to view the shooting of an unarmed man 20 times, with half of those shots in the back as a legal action is inhumane and sickening. We refuse to allow law enforcement to continue to fear as a justification for police brutality. We refuse internal policies which make execution of people of color as routine and acceptable collateral damage. The decision by the D.A.’s office to refuse to value the lives of Black people is a sham and shame on Sacramento and our nation. We join advocates and our Sacramento Branch in calling on the California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to file charges against both officers.” –Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO


Friday, March 30, 2018

Sacramento Kings partner with Black Lives Matter

On Wednesday, the Sacramento Kings announced a partnership with the Build. Black. coalition – a group of community leaders who have organized in the wake of the Stephon Clark tragedy – and Black Lives Matter Sacramento, in their dedication to fundamentally transform black communities and support black youth in the Sacramento region.

“More than anything, I’m proud of Sacramento and proud of the Kings,” said NBC Sports analyst Doug Christie prior to Thursday’s game against Indiana. “We talk about Sacramento Proud – I think now more than ever, it’s not a just an idea, it’s real.”

As part of the commitment, the Kings will establish an education fund for Clark’s children and create a multi-year plan in partnership with Build. Black. to support the education of young people – providing workplace preparation and economic tools needed to build an efficacious future.

“That means a great deal,” said Garrett Temple on Thursday night. “What Vivek said after the [March 22] game wasn’t just talk, we wanted to step in and help the community with this problem.”

The organization’s effort begins Friday, March 30, when Vince Carter, Temple and Christie join ‘Kings and Queens Rise: A Youth Voice Forum for Healing’ at the South Sacramento Christian Church.

“It’s real important, it’s about how we can listen to people and bring some smiles to kids’ faces in the midst of what is going on,” continued Temple. “We have to use that influence we have in a positive manner.”

“It’s a touchy, sensitive subject but it is something that needs to be done,” said Carter. “We need to educate ourselves on both sides of the fence.”

The group will be part of a panel of powerful voices in the community helping to facilitate an open dialogue, and ultimately healing.

“Our team was saved by our community, so it’s only right that it comes full circle,” concluded Christie.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Brother of Stephon Clark shuts down council meeting on police shooting

Stevante Clark, the brother of Stephon Clarkan unarmed black man who was shot and killed by police temporarily shut down a Sacramento city council meeting about the shooting.

Stevante Clarke walked into the Sacramento City Council meeting Tuesday night chanting his late brother’s name.

He led a group of protestors into the meeting chambers in city hall, all chanting Stephon Clark’s name.

The interruption caused the meeting to temporarily shut down.

Hundreds of protesters also gathered at the meeting, chanting and holding signs.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Stephon Clark's grandmother: 'I just want justice for my grandson'

An emotional Sequita Thompson speaks out at a news conference, asking for justice in the police shooting death of her grandson Stephon Clark.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

NBA star DeMarcus Cousins offers to pay for funeral of Stephon Clark

Former Sacramento Kings players DeMarcus Cousins has reached out to the family of Stephon Clark to cover the cost of the funeral.

Clark, 22, was shot and killed by Sacramento police on Sunday while holding a cellphone in his grandmother's backyard. The death of Clark, who was unarmed and African American, sparked protests Thursday.

Cousins, an All-Star center who spent the first six years of his NBA career in Sacramento, was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans last season. Barnes, a former area prep star at Del Campo High School, was waived by the Kings after Cousins was traded. He announced his retirement from the NBA this season.

Cousins has a history of outreach in the Sacramento community.

He paid for the funeral of Grant High School football player Jaulon "JJ" Clavo, who was shot before a playoff game in 2015. He held free basketball camps at Sacramento High School and bought a new scoreboard for the school's basketball gym.

Cousins was a regular at high school games and enjoyed being accessible to students, especially at inner-city schools that high-profile athletes might not want to visit.

Cousins participated in forums with police in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., and in Sacramento, and has spoken candidly about the issues and concerns from both sides.

The NBA recognized Cousins' work away from the court last October, awarding him the inaugural Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in Alabama, New Orleans, Sacramento and South Africa.

When Cousins was traded to New Orleans last February, he said he would always consider Sacramento home and that his ties to the community would remain.

Friday, March 23, 2018

Protesters throughout Sacramento after Stephon Clark shooting

Protests erupted in Sacramento four days after Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man was shot by police in his grandmother's backyard. Demonstrators delayed the start of an NBA game as well as blocked entrance to an interstate highway.

Protesters block NBA arena over fatal Sacramento police shooting.

Demonstrators blocked the entrance to an arena where an NBA game was scheduled Thursday, chanting "Black Lives Matter" and the name of the 22-year-old who was killed.

Most ticketholders weren't able to get inside, and the Sacramento Police said via Twitter that "no one else will be admitted to the #SacKings game."

Outside the arena, protesters linked arms and chanted at fans, "Join us or go home!"

The NBA and the Kings made the decision to close the doors, Sgt. Vance Chandler of the Sacramento Police Department told CNN. The game started with a delay and the team said it would refund the tickets.

Protesters began to disperse at night, and police made no arrests.

[SOURCE]

Protesters of police shooting shut down I-5 and block entry to Sacramento Kings game.

A dramatic day of protest Thursday over the shooting of Stephon Clark a young unarmed black man began at Sacramento City Hall, shut down Interstate 5 during rush hour.

The protest snarled traffic around central city freeways, with cars backed up nearly a mile south on I-5 toward Sutterville Road and on the westbound W/X freeway.

Around 5:30 p.m., southbound lanes reopened. It took another 30-plus minutes for protesters to leave northbound lanes. [SOURCE]

Demonstrators gather at Sacramento City Hall to protest fatal shooting of unarmed man.

Demonstrators in Sacramento, California, gathered Thursday evening to protest the death of 22-year-old Stephon Clark, who was killed in his grandmother's backyard over the weekend after two police officers fired 20 shots at him.

A crowd of people went to Sacramento's City Hall, chanting phrases like "Stand up, fight back" and "No justice, no peace."

Black Lives Matter Sacramento is hosting the demonstration, according to the Facebook event titled "Turn Up - for [Stephon] Clark!"

"We are tired of Sacramento law enforcement killing us!" the event description reads. "We are tired of talking and meeting and sitting trying to convince our elected officials that there needs to be change!"[SOURCE]