These Images of Militarized Police on the Streets of Charlotte Should Stun You
Photos: Police officers in full riot gear, wearing gas masks, deploying tear gas and flash-bangs against protesters angry over the killing by a police officer of a Black man they believe was armed with only a book.
Charlotte, North Carolina is the second-largest city in the southeastern United States. It is also the nation’s second-largest banking center. “The Queen City,” as it is known, has a population of over 800,000 people.
Tonight, it is the center of the latest explosion of anger at law enforcement, over the killing of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year old father of seven, whom some say was disabled. A Charlotte police officer Tuesday afternoon shot and killed Scott because, the Charlotte Police claim, he was holding a gun. His family says he didn’t own a gun, insisting instead he was reading a book in his car, waiting for his son to come home from school.
Regardless of your position on tonight’s events, it’s hard to watch the events and not be stunned at the level of militarization of the police in Charlotte.Â
Hopefully, the facts will be uncovered, and soon, but for now, take a look at these images, revealing the extreme militarization of Charlotte’s police officers.
This, right now, is what the streets of a major street in America look like:
We’re live in Charlotte as police advance on protestors: https://t.co/rUVLQfyOTp pic.twitter.com/RHIkhbJ9m5
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) September 22, 2016
Search trying to clear the streets right now. @wcnc pic.twitter.com/kXW4Q5TMSl
— Mark Boyle (@WCNCmboyle) September 22, 2016
Getting dangerous in uptown. Riot gear is out. Blood on ground. Business vandalized. @wcnc pic.twitter.com/5ET4eaFmna
— Mark Boyle (@WCNCmboyle) September 22, 2016
More pics at trade and college @wcnc pic.twitter.com/Six2ORddHt
— Mark Boyle (@WCNCmboyle) September 22, 2016
Police have donned helmets and riot gear outside the EpiCentre #CharlotteProtest pic.twitter.com/PkEfdT62Ez
— Adam Rhew (@AdamRhew) September 22, 2016
FYI: There are police officers of all races, creeds, and backgrounds lined up out there doing their jobs tonight. #CharlotteProtest pic.twitter.com/DCCXcaVmUr
— Erik Brooks (@ChipBrooks17) September 22, 2016
Scenes from Charlotte tonight pic.twitter.com/EjxdBxKYhf
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 22, 2016
RELATED:Â Charlotte Police Chief Says Officer Who Killed Keith Lamont Scott Had No Body Camera, Gun Found
Â
Image by Mark Boyle via Twitter

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |