In recent news, the world has seen yet another killing of an unarmed African American male in the United States. On March 18, Stephon Clark, who was only 22 years of age, was fatally shot by Sacramento police officers eight times. According to the New York Times, the autopsy report showed that he was shot three times in his lower back, twice near his right shoulder, once in his neck and once under an armpit. He was also shot in the leg.
What officers thought may have been a firearm turned out to be a cell phone, which brings into question if Clark was, in fact, a threat to officers. As more unjust killings continue to surface, I wanted to lift up some of the organizations that are actively doing what they can to push the needle of equity forward.
The Sacramento Kings recently announced that they are partnering with the Build. Black. Coalition and Black Lives Matter Sacramento to “fundamentally transform Black communities through deep investment in Black youth.” As part of their efforts to create change, the team committed to a multi-year partnership that is specifically seeking to support workforce preparation, economic development, as well as support the education of California’s youth. The Kings are also creating an education fund for Clark’s children.
The National Black Caucus of the Young Elected Officials Network (YEO Network) is another organization that is moving beyond the silence and addressing these travesties head on. The YEO Network has released an agenda in an open letter directed towards Donald Trump, California elected officials, and peers nationwide. The letter was signed by 66 young black elected officials and calls for a joint effort to attack both police brutality and gun violence. The key demands included prosecuting police misconduct, more systemic investigations, and ending “stop and frisk” policies that endanger young men of color.
This fight must be continuous, and these organizations are stepping out and continuing to demand change in a way that will hopefully not only change policy, but also hearts and minds. They are demanding more accountability from those who are in positions of power and using their power to build partnerships with those committed to ending this horrific trend. Until law enforcement, congress, and more national and local leaders make tangible and measurable changes to our policing systems and until we make a cultural shift in deeming this unacceptable, we will continue this downward spiral and more lives will be taken unfairly. When will more organizations, and individuals, say, “Enough is enough“?
