Photo credit: Ting Shen of Dallas Morning News
Two African American men were killed in the United States by police officers earlier this week, and the deaths of both men were filmed. Alton Sterling, 37, was shot to death by cops in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after they responded to a 911 call claiming Sterling was threatening a man by brandishing a gun while selling CD’s outside of a store. The cops pinned Sterling down, tasered him, then one officer claimed he was going for his gun, and they shot him multiple times. Sterling had been living in a homeless shelter and left behind 5 children.
Philando Castile, 32, was shot to death in his car during a routine traffic stop for a broken taillight in Minnesota. Castile’s fiance Diamond Reynolds and her 4-year old daughter were in the car. Sterling had a gun in his pocket, but he never grabbed it when he was confronted by police officers. Castile told the officer who pulled him over that he was armed and had a concealed carry permit, and as he reached for his wallet to get his licence the officer shot him 4 times. Castile’s girlfriend then live streamed the aftermath on Facebook, with Castile bleeding to death on camera as the officer kept his gun pointed at him. Castile was a school nutrition services supervisor who was popular among his colleagues and students, according to his employer. He had no criminal record.
Last night in Dallas, Texas, Next Generation Action Network had organized a protest in response to the shootings, with 800 people showing up and 100 police officers were assigned to the event. As the protest was winding down, Micah Xavier Johnson began firing on the police officers from a parking structure. 5 police officers (as of this writing) were killed, with 7 others injured. Johnson was later killed during a shootout with police.
Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson, and Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro have responded to the tragedies on Twitter. Morello’s tweet is in regards to the two African American men killed, while the other 3 musicians’ tweets were following the Dallas massacre.
Alternative Nation sends its condolences to the friends and families of the 5 police officers including Brent Thompson, and also to the friends and families of Castile and Sterling.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Police murder of blacks is as "American" as baseball or apple pie. It's what they've ALWAYS done AND will continue to do. Until we stop it.
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) July 7, 2016
Seems like the USA is slipping into chaos. This is scary.
— Krist Novoselić (@KristNovoselic) July 8, 2016
It is absolutely staggering how many senseless deaths there have been this year.
— Dave Navarro (@DaveNavarro) July 7, 2016
Goodnight. Here's to hoping we wake up to a better world tomorrow.
— Dave Navarro (@DaveNavarro) July 8, 2016
Killing innocent cops is despicable too. What a sad world we are living in. Practice Peace.
— Garbage (@garbage) July 8, 2016
