I have a bad habit. Every morning, in between snoozing my alarm 15 times and finally dragging my butt out of bed, I scroll through my Facebook and Twitter feeds. Usually it’s more of the same–more people I went to high school with got engaged, the (many) dog accounts I follow have posted cute puppy pictures, friends are bitching about a) Hillary Clinton, b) Donald Trump, or c) both. It’s an act of masochism, in a lot of ways–I don’t necessarily care about any of those posts (minus, of course, the puppy pictures.) As a journalist who focuses on law and policy for millennials, social media is a free window into the mood of the U.S. But as a consumer of all things law and policy, and someone who is paid to keep a finger on the zeitgeist, this week has been a nightmare.

It started with the killing of Alton Sterling who was shot by Baton Rouge police earlier this week. Although start is a misnomer in a lot of ways–if we want to look to the start we maybe need to consider the 136 black people killed by police this year, or maybe the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, or even the fact that policing in the American South was in many ways born out of a desire to control freed slaves after the Civil War. But today’s not the day for a history lesson, and so for all intents and purposes, we’re going to start with Alton Sterling. He was shot and killed while held down by police officers, and then the protests began. And then, as always, voices began to drown out the protests. They said “we don’t have all the facts,” they said “he shouldn’t have been resisting,” and his criminal record was brought up time and time again, as though any of those were reasons for the police officers to take his life.

Then there was Philando Castile, a 32-year-old black man from Minnesota. He was pulled over for a broken tail light, a relatively routine traffic stop. According to his girlfriend, who was in the seat next to him, he was asked for his license and registration, and he told the officer that he had a concealed weapon and a license to conceal carry. He reached for his ID, and the officer shot him four times. He died that night. The protests began, and as always, other voices began to drown out the protests. They said “we don’t have all the facts, they said “maybe he moved too quickly,” and they pointed out that police officers are trained to deal with every situation. These were reasons given for why a traffic stop ended with a man dying in the front seat while his girlfriend sat next to him and his girlfriend’s four-year-old sat in the back seat.

And now it’s today, Friday, July 8, and there was a shooting in Dallas last night during a peaceful rally. Snipers shot 12 police officers and two civilians–five of those officers are dead. Three suspects have been taken into custody, a fourth was killed during a standoff. According to the New York Times, “officials said the attackers were planning to injure and kill as many law enforcement officers as they could.” And so again, I woke up and my Facebook and Twitter feeds were angry.

But this was a different kind of anger. I saw post after post blaming the tragedy in Dallas last night on the protesters, on the fact that we’re now talking about the injustices that have permeated American policing for centuries, and on the fact that sometimes there’s not just bad guys and good guys but that it’s much more complicated than that.

To blame the tragedy in Dallas (and it was absolutely a tragedy) on the Black Lives Matter movement, to blame it on the people who just want to make sure that justice is afforded to all Americans, and to use the deaths of five police officers who were working the protests to satisfy preconceived notions about how systemic racism in our justice system simply doesn’t exist, despite all the evidence to the contrary is an injustice–for Alton Sterling, for Philando Castile, for the five police officers who were shot, and for the country as a whole.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post A Terrible Week: Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, the Dallas Shootings appeared first on Law Street.

In less than 48 hours, two black men were killed in high profile officer-involved shootings. Just after midnight on June 5 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, several videos captured Alton Sterling as he was shot multiple times by police who were restraining him on the ground–he was selling CDs outside of a grocery store and he was unarmed. Then in Falcon Heights, Minnesota late last night, Philando Castile was shot multiple times during a traffic stop–his girlfriend live-streamed the gruesome aftermath.

The deaths of these men are hardly unique–in fact police have killed at least 1,083 Americans since Ferguson, Missouri catapulted onto the national news. However, thanks to the video footage during and after the incidents, the American public knows their names.

So rather than explain to you again the importance of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, or discuss with you how institutionalized racism is ingrained in American police forces, or even show you the statistics on police shootings of unarmed black men,  I’ve chosen to fall back. Instead I’ve chosen to provide you with a collection of tweets from the public, politicians, athletes, and celebrities expressing outrage over the shootings.

Because as a young light-skinned black woman in today’s society, it doesn’t matter how educated, critical, or eloquent I am, I will always find myself being categorized by some people under the cliche label of “angry black female.” This label allows people to ignore me, dismiss my opinions, and justify their own ignorance.

But guess what, I am angry! Police senselessly killing black men, women, and children makes me angry.

Therefore, today I will rely on the following qualified individuals–who come from different races, genders, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds–to explain why deaths like these are not acceptable and can not continue to be scapegoated in America, because #BlackLivesMatter.

Politicians and Influencers:

America woke up to yet another tragedy of a life cut down too soon. Black Lives Matter. #PhilandoCastile -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016

The violence that killed Alton Sterling and Philando Castile has become an all too common occurrence for people of color and IT. MUST. STOP.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 7, 2016

The national pattern of lynching black men by ropes or guns must end. We deserve equal protection under the law. #RIP #PhilandoCastile

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) July 7, 2016

I’m not sure what to say anymore that I’ve not already said, that others haven’t already said. In these moments we must organize.

— deray mckesson (@deray) July 7, 2016

Celebrities:

Couldn’t even sleep last night… First, #AltonSterling and then this video of #PhilandoCastile being brutally killed. This. Must. Stop.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 7, 2016

This IS systemic. We MUST DO BETTER. My heart goes out to the families of #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile May they both Rest In Peace.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 7, 2016

If all lives matter… SHOW US!!! Prove it! Show us our bodies hold the same value. There is no excuse for the slaughter. None.

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) July 7, 2016

He had a right to sell CDs, and a right to due process, but he he was shot for being a black man. Don’t rationalize murder. #AltonSterling

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 6, 2016

1) In the interest of time, would ye noble patriots please provide a list of infractions punishable by spontaneous public execution? Thanks!

— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016

2) Upon receipt of this list, we’ll return to our quarters and study up, eager to enjoy freedoms of white mass murders. #LIFEHACK

— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016

3) You chumps will NEVER provide this list… We see through you.

— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016

We should not have to jump through hoops to prove black people shouldn’t be shot by police during routine traffic stops.

— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016

We have fucking video proof and some of you still are all “well, uh, he shouldn’t have moved his left leg so provocatively”.

— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016

Athletes:

This is what lynchings look like in 2016! Another murder in the streets because the color of a… https://t.co/hwdW53AeXg

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 6, 2016

Went to bed and it’s #AltonSterling. Woke up and it’s #PhilandoCastile. I just can’t put a word to how I feel…

— Skylar Diggins (@SkyDigg4) July 7, 2016

Seriously 24 hours later another black man shot and killed dead by another cop! They said the body cameras were steps in the right direction

— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) July 7, 2016

The Public:

#PhilandoCastile is shot over a broken tail light but the stanford rapist avoids prison time since it would “have a severe impact on him.”

— Lyla (@LylaRevilla) July 7, 2016

This woman reposted an emotional response to the Philando Castile from the perspective of a black female police officer:

Black female police officer speaks out about the Alton Sterling shooting. She spoke with so much passion!https://t.co/0p6XMvOs5b

— Bronwyn (@BronwynJanse) July 7, 2016

This man translated his feelings into song:

I write my own songs, but never actually do poetry, but I’m fed up !!
#blacKKKLottery #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/uuyAvWQhbN

— Isaiah Jaay (@simpingNpimping) July 7, 2016

One user even had a suggestion for his fellow black males–wear your personal documents taped to your body:

How we’re going to have to start waking around #PhilandoCastile pic.twitter.com/XuE5ocXbAN

— Kayla Baker ✍ (@kayla_bake) July 7, 2016

…

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Twitter Reacts to Philando Castile and Alton Sterling Shootings appeared first on Law Street.

“Stay with me…We got pulled over for a busted tail-light in the back..,” said the woman as she calmly begins to Facebook live-stream. Her video pans to a black male in a blood-soaked white shirt slumped over in the driver’s seat, and then an officer–his face is out of frame–standing outside the car window pointing a gun at him. She tells her viewers, “the police just…he, he’s covered–they killed my boyfriend. He’s licensed, he’s licensed to carry.”

The woman in the car is Lavish Reynolds, and her boyfriend, Philando Castile, had just been shot multiple times by a police officer in Falcon Heights, Minnesota during a traffic stop. Her four-year-old daughter was present during the shooting, sitting silently in the back seat.

Castile later died at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis at 9:37 pm, a few minutes after he arrived.

The fatal officer-involved shooting comes just one day after multiple videos captured Alton Sterling being shot and killed by Baton Rouge police sparked outrage over police brutality across the country.

*Warning: This Video Contains Graphic Material

#AltonSterling been dead what? A day? Now they killed her boyfriend right in front of her. I’m sick…https://t.co/7Ghdf3502h

— Several (@SeveralChains) July 7, 2016

Reynolds, who maintained a calm composure during the ordeal, explained the incident to her viewers during the live-stream. “He was trying to get out his ID in his wallet out of his pocket, and he let the officer know that he was… that he had a firearm and that he was reaching for his wallet. And the officer just shot him in his arm.”

The officer is later heard yelling in the video, “I told him not to reach for it!  I told him to get his head up!” to which Reynold’s replies: “He had…you told him to get his ID, Sir. His driver’s license. Oh my God, please don’t tell me he’s dead…”

No one besides Castile was injured during the shooting. When police backup arrived, Reynolds, better known as Diamond, was detained. Her video has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook.

In a lengthy CNN interview Thursday, Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile, said that both her son and her daughter have conceal-carry gun permits, and that she discussed the topic with them at her house yesterday–mere hours before Philando was shot.

Valerie Castile stated that her daughter said during that ominous conversation that she might stop carrying her gun, out of a fear that “they’ll shoot me first and then ask questions later.”

She was joined in the interview by Philando’s uncle, Clarence Castile, who called the video “the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” Both he and Valerie Castile expressed outrage toward the unnamed police officer’s actions.

“He’s not an officer,” Clarence Castille said. “He’s just a man. An officer is supposed to protect and serve. That was a man who did that. That man is a destroyer and he came into our lives and done something and took something from us.”

Girlfriend behind the #PhilandoCastile video speaks out. pic.twitter.com/Nn5HW83VCV

— Melissa Colorado (@melissacolorado) July 7, 2016

According to NBC, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement Thursday morning that he asked the White House to compel the U.S. Department of Justice to begin an independent federal investigation into the death of Castile, who would have turned 33 on Friday.

Dayton added that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has already begun “collecting all necessary evidence, and interviewing witnesses, to determine what happened, and to assure that justice in this case is served.”

Unfortunately the American public will not be able to see the actual shooting from the officer’s perspective, because the St. Anthony’s Police Department, which serves the city of Falcon Heights, does not have body cameras, according to the department’s office manager, Kim Brazil.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Woman Live-Streams After Police Shoot Boyfriend, Philando Castile appeared first on Law Street.

It happened again–a cellphone video circulating on social media shows police shooting a black man at close range, only hours after Independence Day celebrations ebbed. Early Tuesday morning Alton Sterling, 37, was shot and killed when pinned to the ground by two police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

According to reports from Louisiana police an anonymous person called 911 and said that a man selling CDs outside the grocery store had threatened him with a gun. Police arrived at the scene, tasered Sterling and wrestled him to the ground.

The cellphone video shows how seconds later someone says, “He’s got a gun.” This led the officers to shoot Sterling even though he was already lying on the ground. It was later confirmed he was shot multiple times in the chest and the back, sparking outrage on social media and protests in Baton Rouge.

This is the video.

Executed in cold blood https://t.co/BWJVRQr1qU #AltonSterling

— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) July 6, 2016

A Man, a Father, a Husband, a Black Man, an American, shot while laying on his back. Tell me why Again? Heaven Help us All #AltonSterling

— LeVelle Moton (@LeVelleMoton) July 6, 2016

According to local media, residents who took to the streets accepted the fact that the same civil unrest and race-focused protests that have grown in other cities have now arrived in Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge the African-American population is divided from the white, in many cases living in separate neighborhoods and under the poverty line.

Even though protesters stopped traffic and no police officers were in sight, the protests were largely non-violent and controlled.

The #AltonSterling aftermath pic.twitter.com/PPvSuiEtaz

— Avi (@RecklessAvi_) July 6, 2016

Alton Sterling was a father of three and sold his CDs in front of the convenience store. The owner Abdullah Muflahi told CNN that they had known each other for six years and that he never saw any argument between Sterling and someone else. He also never saw the gun-waving incident that allegedly was called in to 911.

“Pretty much everybody who knows him knows he’s a sweet person,” Sterling’s sister, Mignon Chambers, said to WVLA-TV.

Sterling’s family spoke at a press conference about the shooting:

This must stop. Enough!RT @CNN: "I want my daddy": #AltonSterling’s 15-year-old son in tears https://t.co/6PcxaxmfXC https://t.co/pP1CgsU3Mq

— Kristin Diable (@kristindiable) July 6, 2016

The shooting comes a little more than a week after the actor Jesse Williams gave a speech at the BET Awards on racism, and urged listeners to not accept police brutality. According to CNN, the police officers involved in Sterling’s death are now on administrative leave.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Police Shooting of Alton Sterling Sparks Protests in Baton Rouge appeared first on Law Street.