Protests have sprung up in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the death of Keith Lamont Scott, an African-American, who was shot by an African-American police officer, Chief Kerr Putney, on Tuesday. While Scott’s family claim he was reading a book in his car, Puttney maintains Scott was armed and that a gun was found at the scene. By Wednesday night, swarms of protestors appeared in Charlotte, sparking the hashtag #CharlotteProtest. The protests, which were initially peaceful, eventually turned violent as arguments between police and protestors escalated. Looting and vandalism soon followed.
Reports of the violence during the #CharlotteProtest have left Tweeps divided, as both police and protestors have been injured. There are those who support the movement, #BlackLivesMatter of #BLM, but condemn the looting. Others feel that the protesters have turned to thugs, criminals, and rioters.
@brownblaze: “You better know what you’re fighting for.
#CharlotteProtest
#CharlotteUprising.”
@JaredWyand: “They’re now in a state of emergency because cops shot a man who’s on dashcam coming at them with a gun. Think about that. #CharlotteProtest”
@CharlesBadger: “’Riots do not develop out of thin air...a riot is the language of the unheard.’ -- MLK #CharlotteProtest”
@CyrusMMcQueen: “They urge protesters to protest peacefully but, if they urged the police to police peacefully, we wouldn’t have an issue. #CharlotteProtest.”
@TheRealKLawson: “#CharlotteProtest this isn’t protesting... Its lawlessness! Violence is the weapon of the weak. Non-violence is the weapon of the strong.”
@dannysuschrist: “This is happening for a reason and if you don’t understand that you’re part of the problem. #CharlotteProtest”
@CeeJayCraig: “People have every right to peacefully assemble and protest. People have no right to violently riot. #CharlotteProtest”
@hanbrolo87: “There’s too much apathy & not enough empathy for others. No one should ever feel like it’s us versus them for any reason. Ever. #CharlotteProtest”
@Pooja_Pasapula: “Some pictures I took of tonight #BLM #KeithLamontScott #CharlotteProtest”
On Facebook, people were filling their timelines with links and updates on the latest reports. Some North Carolinians from Charlotte have voiced concern for their hometown. The rest are sharing opinions that appear just as divided as the ones on Twitter.
Ellery Adams: “#CharlotteProtest Praying for ALL of our brothers and sisters South of us tonight.
Jo Ann Darby (The Girlfriend Life): “Please pray for my hometown city of Charlotte. I was born and raised here and it breaks my heart all that is happening here right now. We must stop jumping to conclusions before all the facts are known. We must hold people accountable. We must stop stereotyping others. #stopstereotyping #charlotteprotest.”
Ingalls Law: “It breaks my heart to see my city in such pain. #Charlotte#InternationalDayOfPeace #CharlotteProtest.”
Scott Ryan Presler: “The #CharlotteProtest taught me that it’s exactly like the other protests...meaning violent, destructive, and won’t achieve any goals.”
Donovan Murphy: “Looting and stealing is not protesting, you thugs... this is getting out of hand #CharlotteProtest”
Jason Latour: “Before calling people thugs, maybe think about how angry you’d be if your community suffered again & again with no recourse. #Charlotteprotest”
Shaun King: “The #CharlotteProtest is not just about Charlotte, but the collective accumulated pain & trauma & frustration of police brutality in America”
Pastor Mark Burns: “Praying for #CharlotteProtest so close to home. We need peace and unity. #OnlyTogether can we rise as Americans!”
Yash Mori: “To my Charlotte people, I love you! Stay strong, stay safe. #charlotteprotest #blacklivesmatter”
Mike Montalvo: “Even if you have a legitimate reason to protest, why destroy your own town? #CharlotteProtest”
NatStar: “Unnecessary deaths of our black men is wrong and it’s time to find the way to understand why this continues to happen. #CharlotteProtest”
JamesMichael Nichols: “Solidarity with everyone protesting in my home state #CharlotteProtest #FilmTheCops”
ML Butler: “We live in a country where folks are more concerned with the destruction of buildings rather than the destruction of black bodies. #TerenceCrutcher #KeithLamontScott #CharlotteProtest”
People on the scene took to Instagram to post videos and pictures instantly. Other users reposted images to show solidarity with the protestors.
corneliusandhyprasetya: “If someone acts like a criminal, you don’t get to act like criminal to protest their criminality #CharlotteProtest”
britneys_weave: “#charlotteprotest”
