‘I felt something inside me snap’: Readers recall their reactions to Stephon Clark shooting
After The Sacramento Bee premiered the new documentary “S.A.C.” on the death and legacy of Stephon Clark, we asked readers how they were impacted by the March 2018 police shooting.
Many who responded said the shooting was an all-too-familiar story in the United States — another unarmed black man shot and killed by local police officers. Others said it was a painful warning that a similar fate could befall their friends or family.
Some said that the shooting led to a more divided Sacramento, one that has grown more distrustful of law enforcement officials who must make tough calls and split-second decisions every day. A few worried little progress has been made to avoid a similar incident in the future.
Here are some of the responses we received. Answers have been lightly edited for length and spelling.
‘If we want a safer community ... we must start here’
The shooting of my brother had a negative impact on my mental health for days and weeks. I couldn’t sleep, eat or really process anything in its entirety because of the callous murder of Stephon Clark. The community was affected as well, knowing that this easily could of been their black or brown unarmed son, grandson, friend, brother.
The unnecessary shooting of my brother created positive and much-needed legislative change #stephonclarklaw, a law that hasn’t been updated since 1872. Stephon lives through art, music and strength in numbers.
Stephon walks our street as a prophet. He lives through me. I believe I am the voice for the voiceless, for my brother in many ways. Change is inevitable. If we want a safer community — no more Stephon Clarks — we must start here in our community.
— Stevante Clark
‘It just doesn’t make sense’
The shooting of Stephon changed my life. We were classmates and friends at Sac High and now that I sit and think about all of our innocent, fun teen memories. It just doesn’t make sense how he was killed in such a cold, heartbreaking manner.
I now am concerned for the safety of my husband and sons. I get anxiety around the police. This whole situation put a damper on how I used to look at life. Things will never be the same. I just hope his sons know they had an awesome, funny, friendly, caring dad.
— Raeyana Coln
‘We all suffer the consequences now’
The event has made me realize how underprivileged our low-income neighborhoods are in the way that they lack a better education. Had this person had a better upbringing and education, he would less likely have ended up in the situation he did. The events not only affected him and his family, but everyone involved and the community that surrounds them. We all suffer the consequences now.
— Anonymous
‘These officers are not murderers’
The only events that upset me more than this is when law enforcement officers are murdered. As a retired law enforcement officer, I can draw upon my experience of being shot by a criminal and returning fire to protect myself and my partner. This event troubles me greatly because of my feelings for the officers who shot Clark.
They are the true victims. All the facts indicate Clark committed suicide by cop. These officers must feel horrible knowing they were essentially tricked by Clark into shooting him. These officers are not murderers and they have not been supported properly by the community nor their own department. They are good people and members of our community just like everyone.
— Don Jones
‘I felt something inside me snap’
The morning after my birthday, I woke up to learn of another unarmed black man being killed by the police. After reading the breaking news, I felt something inside me snap. Another man with my color who could have been my brother, uncle, friend ... DEAD. I laid in bed and cried.
— Renee
Friction with law enforcement
Not at all, other than the discord it has sown in the community towards law enforcement. Their job is extremely difficult beyond the comprehension of the general public. I would encourage folks to do a ride-a-long with officers from their local agency to get a grasp of the depth of complex issues they deal with daily. It’s truly an eye-opener.
— Anonymous
“Our bodies pave the way to progress’
It showed the power of community to come together to demand change but it also showed how a flawed system remains intact. Nothing happened to the officers, the district attorney placed Stephon on trial. No action has been taken. While things have not been as bad in Sacramento with police killing black bodies, I still feel terror, knowing the process of injustice that could await the next family impacted by police violence.
Justice seems to be a long road that black people have had to walk in our own cities and neighborhoods. Regardless of what the DA says, there are still murderers that walk among our community. Our bodies pave the way to progress. Our mothers’ tears and voices scream for justice in America and I thought that Sacramento would be the city that would make these systemic changes as an answer to our screams.
I pray that we take a deep look at how money transfers hands from the police to the DA and that we provide a real independent police oversight commission that allows the people to voice their opinion in the form of policy and disciplinary action, including termination.
Without it, what I can say is that I will look to see the same energy and action to shut Sacramento down. Because our bodies should not pave the way to justice when there are reasonable solutions to provide justice to the people in the form of oversight and accountability to the people.
— Victor Brazelton