The fatal police shooting of 22-year-old unarmed African-American man Stephon Clark, who was shot in his grandmother’s backyard after holding a cell phone last week, sparked national outcry. Activists have stood up for Clark even in the face of those who would actually seek to demean him.
It seems that California Republican gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen just tried to undermine Black folks’ outrage and demonize Clark like it was nothing.
“Very simply, the man that was unfortunately shot in Sacramento, the reason this whole thing happened is he was breaking into cars,” Allen said during a state governor candidates’ forum co-hosted by the San Diego Union Tribune and ABC 10 News on Sunday. “He had smashed a couple of car windows because he was stealing from those cars, apparently. He was then chased by a helicopter and he ran from the police—“
Allen actually blamed Clark for his own killing, never mind the fact that he was shot 20 times by officers. Was the candidate somehow unaware that Clark, a father of two, was riddled with a hail of gunfire last Wednesday?
Allen went on and said, “Why don’t we reset my time. To the best of my understanding, it is very clear that this individual was breaking into cars. When the police helicopter began to follow him, he then ran from police. When police finally apprehended him, he approached them with something in his hand.”
The candidate, known to support Trump, actually resorted to even saying that the shooting had “nothing to do with the color of [Clark’s] skin.” In true Trump fashion, he also defended police officers in the case and touted “law-and-order” rhetoric.
“Then listen, number one, this person should not have been breaking into cars and number two, he should not have been running from the police,” said Allen. “It had nothing to do with the color of his skin. There is no police officer that wakes up in the morning and wants to shoot someone. We must back the badge, respect our law enforcement and understand that there are laws enforced by our police officers in California.”
Allen didn’t address why police didn’t use non-lethal procedures, a question asked by Clark’s grandmother, Sequita Thompson, on Monday, CBS News reported. He also didn’t address the deadly force or Clark’s grandmother, who is left without answers, justice or any kind of peace.
Clark’s life will continue to be celebrated, no matter Allen’s derogatory comments.
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95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
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9. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC
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Source: 26 of 95This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
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Source: 28 of 95This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
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Source: 30 of 95Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project National Office (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
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Source: 32 of 95Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project National Office (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
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Source: 38 of 95#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
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Source: 40 of 95#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
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Source: 42 of 95I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
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Source: 44 of 95I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
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Source: 45 of 95So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— Megan (@mutualpromisess) March 24, 2018
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Source: 47 of 95So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— Megan (@mutualpromisess) March 24, 2018
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Source: 49 of 95Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
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Source: 50 of 95Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
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Source: 51 of 95Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
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Source: 54 of 95Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
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Source: 56 of 95#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— messy bun + getting stuff done!☕️ (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
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Source: 58 of 95#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— messy bun + getting stuff done!☕️ (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
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Source: 60 of 95#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
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Source: 62 of 95#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
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Source: 63 of 95I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
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Source: 65 of 95I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
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Source: 67 of 95These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
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Source: 69 of 95These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
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Source: 75 of 95#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— $notkameast (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
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Source: 77 of 95#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— $notkameast (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
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Source: 78 of 95The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
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Source: 80 of 95The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
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Source: 82 of 95I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
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Source: 83 of 95I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
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Continue reading 95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
Black folks were representing in full force at the dozens of March for Our Lives rallies held across the globe on March 24, 2018, attracting hundreds of thousands of students, activists, celebrities and other world citizens concerned about the disturbing levels of gun violence that plagues the U.S like no other nation. As the disproportionate victims of gun violence in America, Black people made sure their voices were heard. Have a look at the youthful faces of the country's current and future freedom fighters as well as their colorful, clever signs.
Here’s What They Think About You: California Candidate Blames Stephon Clark For Getting Killed was originally published on newsone.com
