On March 18th, Stephon Clark, a 22 year old father of two, died after Sacramento Police shot him 20 times in his grandmother’s yard. As Vox wrote:
According to a press release from the Sacramento Police Department, officers were in the area at night, investigating reports of a man who allegedly broke car windows and hid in a backyard. A helicopter directed the two officers to Clark.
The officers approached Clark as he walked to his backyard. One officer shouted, “Show me your hands! Stop!” Clark continued to walk, ending up in the backyard. The officers pursued him. Within seconds of coming face to face with Clark, the cop shouted more orders — “Show me your hands!” — and finally yelled, “Gun, gun, gun!” The two officers on the scene then fired 20 shots — never identifying themselves as police before they killed Clark.
Newly released bodycam footage shows #StephonClark was shot 20 times in 7 seconds, after police mistook his white cellphone for a gun: pic.twitter.com/6y7yFKJOlQ
— The Root (@TheRoot) March 22, 2018
Police originally stated that Clark was seen carrying a gun, but then later changed their story to a metal bar, and video released after his death clearly showed that Clark was only carrying his cell phone. In the wake of the release of the video, people gathered in Sacramento on March 22nd, and took to the streets to decry the killing. After an hour of marching through the streets, people then took to the I-5 freeway, a major highway and transportation commodities corridor, shutting it down on both sides.
The murder of Clark is sadly only one of 278 people who have been killed by US law enforcement since the start of 2018, according to Killed by Police. Also, recent studies released and reported on by the New York Times, also shows a clear system of racial apartheid within the United States, whereas African-American male children from the top 1% are just as likely to be arrested as blue-collar white male children. These systems of violence and domination are the building blocks of white supremacy and settler-colonialism, but have only proliferated under neoliberalism, both under Obama as well as Trump.
After leaving the freeway in the hundreds, protesters surrounded and blocked the entrances of a local sports stadium, shutting down partially a Sacramento Kings basketball game.
Shot 20 times. Shot 20 times. #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/pX6fTBYeRk
— Ryan Lillis (@Ryan_Lillis) March 23, 2018
Dante Foster Jr., a childhood friend of #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/7okK5pf1hZ
— Ryan Lillis (@Ryan_Lillis) March 23, 2018
“Not one more” is the chant carrying the protest tonight @Golden1Center pic.twitter.com/dGZbHtQpHf
— Ezra David Romero (@ezraromero) March 23, 2018
Empty upper deck #sacramentokings #StephonClark #BlackLivesMatter #nonviolentresistance pic.twitter.com/UoBaTKjMt9
— luke (@lukemcr) March 23, 2018
Sacramento is shutting shit down #stephonclark
— leftistmob666 (@Jay_Birchfield) March 23, 2018
#BlackLivesMatter ✊? #StephonClark Make it stop. pic.twitter.com/vvtjMxSj35
— Captain Coop ⚓️ (@CaptainDotCoop) March 23, 2018
Don’t let them sleep Sac town #StephonClark
— J.MP4 (@YaraMej) March 23, 2018
Hi everyone. I’ve got a charged phone and I’m back at the Golden 1 arena where #StephonClark protest is underway. pic.twitter.com/WTtZ4OVAtS
— Nashelly Chavez (@nashellytweets) March 23, 2018
Protesters with @BLMSacramento holding the line at the @Golden1Center entrance. #StephonClark https://t.co/3D77WTYEUQ
— Dave Kempa ? (@youknowkempa) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/smmurphette/status/977005697090011137
A human chain has been formed around the Golden 1 Center. As of right now, the Golden 1 Center is not allowing anyone else in. There are about 20 fans inside for the Kings vs. Hawks game. #Sacramento #SayHisName #BlackLivesMatter #StephonClark #Zoe
— alex. (@ayeeeits_alex) March 23, 2018
Shutting down the #Kings game. #BlackLivesMatters #StephonClark #nonviolentresistance pic.twitter.com/d1rnH7xNGm
— luke (@lukemcr) March 23, 2018
Shut the city down. #StephonClark
— DAIMS (@DAIMS_) March 23, 2018
Watching Live coverage from the Golden 1 Center #BlackLivesMatter #StephonClark #Zoe #Sacramento pic.twitter.com/nK1uhu4f2Z
— alex. (@ayeeeits_alex) March 23, 2018
#StephonClark's death must never be forgotten. In every state black people are in chains, and in every neighborhood the wanton murder of black men by the state is law. Every day that this country has peace is itself an atrocity. pic.twitter.com/NUVCRCBOsu
— RevAbolitionMov (@RevAbolitionist) March 23, 2018
Golden 1 Center in Sacramento is in lock-down mode for Sacramento Kings v. Atlanta Hawks.
Protesters for Stephon Clark has seized the moment!#StephonClark @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/xLdnfbwFl5
— Publicity Agents (@TonyRayHarvey) March 23, 2018
Protestors saying fans outside aren’t getting into the @SacramentoKings game tonight, so they might as well join in on the protest for #StephonClark. pic.twitter.com/xxuU40ykNA
— Frances Wang (@FrancesWangTV) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/treyhunter_/status/977000368042160129
#BlackLivesMatter protesters took to the streets of #Sacramento to demonstrate against the @SacPolice for the killing of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man. Hundreds blocked Interstate 5 and shut down the Golden 1 Ctr. #StephonClark protest pic.twitter.com/iqUl5V39QL
— Justin Sullivan (@sullyfoto) March 23, 2018
#StephonClark shooting/police murder protest RIGHT NOW shutting down Sacramento Kings game tonight RT @NickMiller510: The doors to the Golden 1 Center are shut, protesters knockdown security gates and metal detectors. Tip off on 15 minutes. pic.twitter.com/r5nIMhkU7L
— Xoel Tena (@joeltena) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976996392282419200
The Stephon Clark shooting protest has put the Sacramento Kings arena on lockdown, nobody is allowed in. There is a tip off for Kings game in less than 30 minutes.
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller510) March 23, 2018
.@SacramentoKings @Golden1Center any update on tonight’s game? Protesters demanding justice for Stephon Clark, the man killed by police on Sunday night, are blocking entrances. Chanting “Stephon Clark” pic.twitter.com/FJcBrEhbzq
— Drew Bollea (@Drew_WCCB) March 23, 2018
We shutting down these freeways. FUCK POLICE BRUTALITY. #StephonClark
— Mmmm…tiddies. (@DL_MORMON_THUG) March 23, 2018
Shut the fucking city down. #StephonClark
— The Western Belle (@_ohgirlno) March 23, 2018
Protestors have now made their way to @Golden1Center where the @SacramentoKings are playing the Hawks tonight. They’ve knocked down some of the security gates & are chanting “Let us in!” #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/jLRGWK47xZ
— Frances Wang (@FrancesWangTV) March 23, 2018
Justice for #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/oZEdsSqr5f
— (((heckasac))) (@heckasac) March 23, 2018
A woman protestor shouts "F@%k the police" at #SacPd Police officer trying to steer traffic after protestors block L Street on their way to shut traffic on interstate 5
Increased tensions between Police & the African American Community after the killing of Unarmed #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/SNwrn55svb
— Irvis Orozco (@IrvieOro) March 23, 2018
#StephonClark #BlackLivesMatter #sacramento pic.twitter.com/hKNGI0tv9m
— Eric Clark (@SyberBoiFresh) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/sacsocialclub/status/976992582025687040
from the streets to the freeways of sacramento— for #stephonclark, his family + friends, for the black community, for justice, for equality. #blm pic.twitter.com/OlUjKSSsNf
— ♠︎♡G♧♦︎ (@asphyxxx1a) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976992589629935616
Protesters in #Sacramento, Ca shut down northbound I-5 after rally at City Hall for justice in the March 18th shooting of #StephonClark by 2 Sacramento police officers @chp_sac pic.twitter.com/V5qjJHIYRw
— Breaking News Photos (@onscene911) March 23, 2018
Fuck the police. Long live #stephonclark https://t.co/0POKrDjN01
— gay area fck up (@GayAreaFckUp) March 23, 2018
Police say there was a report of a “vandal” in the area. Police went thru backyards with helicopter guiding them and shot the first black man they saw 20 times because someone reported “a vandal.” Then muted their mics. #StephonClark https://t.co/RTU2PRSVEz
— Nioshii (@Nartist) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976988538183958528
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976987281192972288
A young protestor holding a sign "#Police should do time for their crimes"
Several hundred protestors have taken the streets in dtwn Sacramento asking for justice in the killing of #StephonClark an unarmed black man shot on Sunday by #SacPd pic.twitter.com/47HV8aTAjg
— Irvis Orozco (@IrvieOro) March 23, 2018
#ftp #acab #sacramentoprotest #StephonClark protest pic.twitter.com/SwGc6MmvMY
— SmoothBrainedCriminal???? (@fake_name_mafia) March 23, 2018
The message people are giving “ is strength in numbers,” but not everyone wants to leave the freeway #Sacramento pic.twitter.com/DvTpAaFkIf
— Ezra David Romero (@ezraromero) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/kalyncoghill/status/976984435370414083
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976979546854404096
#stephonClark pic.twitter.com/5Z9SqLK3zV
— Tia Orr (@burnleyorr) March 23, 2018
@BLMSacramento leaders shout "You shoot us down, will shut you down"
Several 100 protestors are in front of Sacramento City Hall, asking for Justice in the Police shooting of unarmed #StephonClark who was shot 22 times in Sacramento pic.twitter.com/k3yNEqS22n
— Irvis Orozco (@IrvieOro) March 23, 2018
Protesters block I-5 in Sacramento, call for justice after deadly police shooting https://t.co/J6IVdC63gB pic.twitter.com/BUcNHIj0Sc
— kcranews (@kcranews) March 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/Progressives20/status/976986225377792005
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976974881798619137
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976976712889024513
Hundreds of protesters marching for #StephonClark in #Sacramento have shut down I-5 in what seems both directions. #Justice4StephenClark pic.twitter.com/357mPqenxW
— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) March 23, 2018
We demand #justiceforzoe Traffic is not moving until we get answers! #sacramento #stephonclark pic.twitter.com/LOhy3Obld4
— Marcus L. Strother (@MarcusLStrother) March 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Captain_Hooks/status/976958261055275010
https://twitter.com/KristinaNFlores/status/976967023740817408
https://twitter.com/hellokelechi/status/976971866551214080
“They will pay for this. You will know his name forever. You hear me. You’re going to remember him like you know Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice. You are going to know him”
Brother of #StephonClark
https://t.co/NI0YORdBO1 pic.twitter.com/MxJ6gERICR— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) March 22, 2018