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Nine-year-old Zianna Oliphant.

Tearful nine-year-old delivers speech on police brutality in Charlotte

Zianna Oliphant needed a stool to be seen over the lectern at the Charlotte city council meeting.

ANGRY CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS verbally attacked City Council members for hours, complaining about what they called unaccountable police officers and civilian leaders who have failed to force change as the city marked a week of protests since a police officer fatally shot a black man.

At its Monday night meeting, the council opened the floor to dozens of residents who voiced their opinions about the 20 September shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

Many called on Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Police Chief Kerr Putney and other council members to resign on the seventh day of protests since the shooting.

“It’s going to be rough in these streets until you give justice to our people,” said the Rev. Milton Williams, the final speaker in a three-hour string.

Our city’s in an uproar, and you did not respond.

Many of the speakers carried signs expressing their anger.

One man’s sign called for the repeal of legislation taking effect 1 October that blocks the release of police video without a court order.

Video footage

Many speakers demanded that police release all video footage of the confrontation.

Scott’s family and advocacy groups complain that the department divulged only about three minutes of footage from two cameras.

They have urged the police department to release all other video footage it has, as well as audio recordings of communications that could clarify how the situation unfolded. A media coalition is also requesting more footage.

“We have no reason to trust you, and you’re giving us even less,” Khasha Harris told City Council members.

Some speakers brought their children, not only to share in the moment but, in several instances, to address the council.

Many in the crowd were brought to tears by the comments of Zianna Oliphant, a child who needed a stool to be seen over the lectern.

USA TODAY / YouTube

Graveyard

“It’s a shame that our fathers and brothers are killed and we can’t see them anymore,” Oliphaunt said.

It’s a shame that we have to go through that graveyard and bury him. We need our fathers and brothers to be by our side.

“Just because of our colour doesn’t mean anything to me. We are black people and we shouldn’t have to feel like this. We shouldn’t have to protest because you are all treating us wrong.

We do this because we need to and have rights.

Council member Kenny Smith said the council should be listening and taking action to answer the concerns.

“The unrest here has been decades in the making,” council member Al Alston said.

Tuesday was the boiling point, and it’s getting hotter.

The footage released so far of Scott’s shooting left questions in many people’s minds — including whether he was holding a gun, as police have stated.

Scott’s family said he didn’t have a weapon.

The footage includes body camera video from one officer, but not the black officer who fatally wounded Scott, who was 43.

The gun recovered at the scene of Scott’s shooting had been stolen and later sold to Scott, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police source told The Associated Press on Monday.

The source insisted on speaking anonymously because the State Bureau of Investigation continues to look into the case. SBI Agent Erik Hooks declined comment when asked whether the gun had been stolen.

Charlotte Police Fatal Shooting Police officers stand outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte before an NFL game, in response to protests over the shooting death of a black man by a police officer on 20 September. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Rally

At a rally at a downtown church, North Carolina NAACP President Rev. William Barber said federal authorities should investigate the city’s police department.

Police officers who fail to operate their body cameras during an encounter should be prosecuted, Barber said.

Six people were fatally shot since body cameras were given to all patrol officers about a year ago.

But the officers who fired the fatal shots in five of those cases — including Scott’s — weren’t using the cameras.

Charlotte police didn’t respond on Monday to requests for information about those cases.

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129 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Bell
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    May 1st 2023, 10:43 PM

    fantastic tournament, well played luca.

    277
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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 1st 2023, 10:50 PM

    Best tournament in years. Brecel and si were unreal

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    May 1st 2023, 10:39 PM

    Thoroughly deserved the win

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    Mute mark mc cann
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    May 1st 2023, 10:51 PM

    Fantastic Final …. and Mark Selby’s 147 yesterday was brilliant, Well done Luca enjoy your year !!!

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    Mute Thom Thumb
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    May 1st 2023, 10:50 PM

    Luca an Si the two hero’s of the tournament

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    Mute Charlie Brown
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    May 1st 2023, 10:30 PM

    Amazing, credit to Shelby, what a warrior. Luca could go on to win many world titles…. Though he could just disappear into the night.

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    Mute Liam
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    May 1st 2023, 11:47 PM

    Snooker final a brilliant sporting event to watch, always brings drama. What a match well done Luca fully deserved.

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    Mute Liz Hennessy
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    May 1st 2023, 11:25 PM

    Brilliant final. Well done Luca You deserve it

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    Mute Tomaldo
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    May 2nd 2023, 1:25 AM

    @all devices: exactly, some people say ‘cos there’s no physical contact, it’s not a real sport, but u need a lot of skill and mental toughness to make the grade. Is it a sport or a game, who cares, I love it. Well done Belgian Bullet.

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    Mute all devices
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    May 2nd 2023, 12:46 AM

    To those so called (snob) sports commentators who constantly run down snooker as a sport, F youuuu..!
    Great tournament. There’s a particular ‘sports’ show on radio which regularly states that unless you have to to change your shoes to participate ‘its not a sport’.

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    Mute Ted O'Donnell
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    May 2nd 2023, 12:13 AM

    Weii done

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    Mute Leonard Barry
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    May 2nd 2023, 12:46 AM

    Surprise winner.

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