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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 19 March 2019

Sharpton, family seek change a year after Stephon Clark died

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE police shootings. They’re of police discrimination
Associated Press backing legislation by San against young black men.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Diego Assemblywoman He noted white men have
— Standing beside the Shirley Weber that would committed far worse crimes
family of a 22-year-old change the standard than vandalism, such as
black man who was fatally for when police can use mass shootings, and come
shot by police a year ago deadly force. out alive.
Monday, the Rev. Al Sharp- The measure says police The announcements that
ton called for California to must have a “reasonable” they wouldn’t be charged
make it easier to prosecute need to open fire, instead sparked new protests, in-
officers who kill civilians and of a “necessary” one. We- cluding one in which po-
to require that all cases go ber proposed it last year lice arrested 84 people in a
before a grand jury. after Clark’s death, but the wealthy Sacramento neigh-
“The legacy is we’re going Democratic-led Senate borhood. District Attorney
to pass legislation in Ste- blocked it from moving for- Anne Marie Schubert, who
phon’s name, the legacy ward. declined to indict the of-
is that we won’t stop fight- Sharpton said such a ficers, chose not to press
ing for justice in Stephon’s change likely would have charges against anyone The Rev. Al Sharpton, second from right, accompanied by
name,” Sharpton said, re- required the officers who arrested. Stevante Clark, center, the brother of police shooting victim
ferring to Stephon Clark. shot Clark to show there Clark’s family has called for Stephon Clark, and attorney Benjamin Crump, left, talks to
“You might have killed him was no other alternative peaceful demonstrations. reporter after a news conference Monday, March 18, 2019, in
a year ago, but you can’t than shooting him. “Let’s march peacefully, Sacramento, Calif.
kill a movement.” He also called for lawmak- because they want us to Associated Press
Sharpton spoke on the ers to require all police act ugly,” said SeQuita mother. “Let’s stand tall justice one day for all our
steps of the Capitol along- shooting investigations Thompson, Clark’s grand- and proud, for we will get loved ones.”q
side Clark’s brother, mother to be heard by a grand
and grandmother, as well jury. A 2017 law requires
family attorney Ben Crump, that grand jury transcripts
who is known for represent- be made public in police
ing the families of young shooting cases when the
black men killed by police. officers aren’t indicted, but
Two Sacramento officers prosecutors can decide
responding to calls of whether to press charges
someone breaking car win- on their own.
dows shot Clark a year ago No such legislation has
in his grandparents’ back- been introduced, but Sen.
yard. Local and state pros- Steven Bradford said he’s
ecutors announced earlier in “discussions” about it.
this month that they would Police unions do not sup-
not charge the officers be- port changing the use-of-
cause police thought Clark force standards and are
had a gun and feared for backing their own measure
their lives. Clark was hold- that would enhance officer
ing only a cellphone. training, with an emphasis
His death prompted in- on trying to calm suspects
tense protests in the capital first.
city, with marchers shutting The California Police Chiefs
down a highway ramp and Association did not com-
blocking fans from enter- ment on the grand jury
ing the downtown arena idea.
where the Sacramento The Sacramento Police
Kings play. It also drew the Department this month re-
attention of Sharpton and leased transcripts of the
Crump, who represented interviews done with the of-
the family of Trayvon Mar- ficers in the hours after the
tin. shooting. Both described
Now Sharpton, Crump and thinking Clark had a gun.
the family are calling for Crump said Clark’s death
sweeping changes to Cali- and the failure to charge
fornia laws dealing with the officers is an example