Twitter storm erupts after South Carolina police shooting caught on video
A video (above) showing a South Carolina police officer, Michael Slager, fatally shooting a seemingly unarmed African American man, Walter Scott, has become the centre of a Twitter storm.
A police report of the incident stated that the police officer was afraid for his life because Scott had taken his stun gun. It also said that police tried furiously to revive the man after the shooting.
However, the video told an entirely different story.
According to the video, Scott ran away from the officer, and was shot eight times in the back before falling down. The officer then cuffed Scott’s arms behind his back and tossed something, possibly the stun gun, beside him. No CPR was performed.
This incident has occurred in the light of multiple high-profile police shootings against black civilians in the US, including those in New York, Cleveland and Ferguson. The latter resulted in a report showing that black citizens are seemingly targeted by Ferguson police.
Since the incident, #WalterScott has trended on Twitter. Even though Slager faces life in prison or the death penalty, many shared their fears that he wouldn’t get convicted, fears that the video’s anonymous shooter was in danger, and overwhelmingly, fears that even this wouldn’t spark a change.
I hope #WalterScott videographer stays anonymous. There is nothing to be gained for him. Cops and the system will target him.
— No Justice No Peace (@drumbeats4peace) April 8, 2015
How many teachers will speak the name #WalterScott in classrooms today. How many will give in to their discomfort and ignore. #educolor ...
— Melinda D. Anderson (@mdawriter) April 8, 2015
Would they have even have cared to find out what happened if there was no video? #WalterScott
— Simon Miguel Naitram (@SimonMNaitram) April 8, 2015
Am I the only one who, despite the video, is still skeptical this officer will be convicted. #WalterScott
— jacque reid (@jacquereid) April 8, 2015
@deray He plants the taser next to #WalterScott IN FRONT OF another officer! What does that tell us?? This is standard operating procedure.
— Judgecapri (@judgecapri) April 8, 2015
How do I explain to my nephew that the same people who are here to protect you maybe the ones to actually kill you. #WalterScott
— Karεn Ciѵil (@KarenCivil) April 8, 2015
You think you're a hardened, cynical man who's done too much 'news' ever to be shocked. Then you watch #WalterScott footage and almost puke.
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) April 8, 2015
#WalterScott pledged to serve and protect America in uniform, yet that same pledge wasn't made to him. pic.twitter.com/rY6PvJ8Pnr
— thomas mariadason (@jaffnagraphy) April 8, 2015
Things you'll hear today: #NotAllCops "If he would have just..." "What about black on black crime?" "Not always about race." #WalterScott
— SNIPES! (@ChocnessMonsta) April 8, 2015
All of us, in whatever role we play, can support each other through events like these by simply spreading the word #WalterScott
— Fashiondsa (@Fashiondsa) April 8, 2015