Charlotte, North Carolina — Protesters clashed with police in Charlotte for a second night Wednesday, a day after violence erupted in the city over the killing of Keith Lamont Scott, an African-American man, by an officer.
Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency, and said he’ll deploy members of the National Guard and state highway patrol to Charlotte.
“Governor Pat McCrory has declared a State of Emergency upon the request Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney,” read a statement from the governor’s office. “The governor has also initiated efforts to deploy the North Carolina National Guard and the State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement.”
What started out as a prayer vigil in honor of Keith Lamont Scott turned violent Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency, as riot gear-wearing police fired tear gas at demonstrators who threw bottles at police, blocked an interstate, threw objects at passing cars, jumped on vehicles, looted businesses, vandalized a Hyatt hotel and attacked its employees.
And one of the protesters was in critical condition and on life support after being shot by another civilian.
Four police officers sustained non-life threatening injuries, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (@CMPD) tweeted at 1:16 early Thursday morning.
Also on their way to Charlotte are officials from the White House and the Department of Justice, according to ABC affiliate WSOC, citing mayor Jennifer Roberts.
And the North Carolina NAACP State Conference said in a statement that it “will be in Charlotte to talk with the family, key members of the community and City leaders” on Thursday, followed by a press conference in the afternoon.
Roy Cooper, North Carolina’s attorney general said in statement, “Violence will not bring justice … We must come together as a community to get answers and find a better path forward.”
Civil unrest surged Tuesday as reports of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott spread, prompting mass protests that went into the night. A dozen officers were injured during the unrest, according to a tweet from the local police department early Wednesday morning.
As protests continued Wednesday, reports emerged of a shooting that left a protester critically wounded, according to the Associated Press. Charlotte officials at first announced the man was dead but later amended the statement to say he was on life support. The police department has said the shooting was not committed by an officer.
AJ Woodson
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
