Image via Twitter
Peaceful protests broke out in Minneapolis last night after Hannepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that cops involved in the shooting death of handcuffed Black man Jamar Clark will not face charges.
According to Atlanta Black Star, Freeman told media members Wednesday that evidence showed Clark struggled with officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze. Freeman also claims that Clark said more than once, “I’m ready to die” during the altercation with arresting officers.
Hours after the press conference, hundreds of protesters organized at the site of the shooting of the 24-year-old man. CBS News reports that demonstrators marched to the Hennepin County Government Center, chanting things like, “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” and, “No justice, no peace. Prosecute the police.”
“I know my cousin didn’t tell that officer he was ready to die,” family member Cameron Clark told local CBS news outlet WCCO. “I know he didn’t, and for Mike Freeman to make that story up, and lie like that, he’s got blood on his hands. And that’s all I’m going to say.”
Freeman’s account of the evidence did not sit well with protesters. Many, like Cameron Clark, do not believe that Jamar Clark was at fault in his death.
“The entire case seems to hinge on officers’ statements and DNA evidence, DNA evidence that was held on to and collected by MPD officers. So there’s a lack of trust in believing that the precinct that killed Jamar Clark did not also tamper with evidence,” said BLM organizer Mica Grim to City Pages.
Twitter users documented the demonstration with photos and videos:
https://twitter.com/brownblaze/status/715274766194618368
https://twitter.com/micamaryjane/status/715338675094032385
#Blacklivesmatter Protest as Cops get away with killing #JamarClark and wont even face charges. pic.twitter.com/dz2iIKfcyE
— TrueBlackResist (@trueblackresist) March 31, 2016
Chant in Minneapolis's 4th precinct: "No cops, no KKK, no racist USA!" https://t.co/Rbz8J2xOAH #JamarClark
— immunocommunist (@leftjew) March 31, 2016
#JamarClark was unarmed. If the police were too, he would be alive.
— Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) March 30, 2016
Killer cops walk free. Yet righteous anger, esp Black rage, won't go unpunished. That's #WhiteSupremacy.#JamarClark https://t.co/kPSxPQrBlz
— Jesse Benn (@JesseBenn) March 31, 2016
The state of Minnesota has a long history of dealing with cases like this. For 16 years, the state has had an estimated 143 people who have died after being shot, tased or restrained by a police officer, reports the Star Tribune. Just like the Jamar Clark case, none of those arresting cops involved were charged.
