10 months ago on On July 5, 2016, two police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shot and killed Alton Sterling, a black man known for selling CDs outside of the convenience store where he was gunned down.
Sterling was detained there by Baton Rouge Police Department officers. After an anonymous caller reported that a man believed to be Sterling was threatening him and waving a handgun while in the process of selling CDs.
The officers tased Sterling, then forced the heavy-set man to the hood of a sedan and then to the ground. Sterling was pinned to the ground by both officers, one kneeling on his chest and the other on his thigh, both attempting to control his arms. One of the officers appears to yell, “He’s got a gun!,” and then shots ring out.
A search warrant affidavit said that officers had observed the butt of a gun in Mr. Sterling’s front pants pocket. At issue in the investigation was whether Mr. Sterling was reaching for the weapon, as officers claimed when he was shot and killed by the officers.
Ten months ago-The FBI and the Justice Department announced a federal investigation into the shooting.
Federal Civil Rights investigations of this sort, when police are scrutinized over the killing of a citizen, can take painfully long for victim's families, their supporters, and communities looking for some semblance of closure or at least answers.
Well, the answer came when-The Justice Department less than 24 hours ago decided to disclose its decision to end the investigation without charges, The Post said, citing four unidentified people familiar with the matter.
It will be the first time since Attorney General Jeff Sessions took office that the department has publicly declined to prosecute officers for possible wrongdoing in a high-profile case, The Post reported.
U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, whose district includes the site of Sterling's killing, said The Post report "completely undermines the credibility and transparency" of the Justice Department because the agency did not first tell Sterling's family and Louisiana officials. Richmond, a New Orleans Democrat, called that an "indictment" of the Justice Department.
The Statement is from Freedom First International SCLC. This group was with the Sterling Family on December 10, 2016-World Human Rights Day when they organized the “Quest for Justice Rally.”
In the case of Alton Sterling our hearts go out to the family:
We are now at a time when we can't depend on the US Government more specifically the Department of Justice-In communities around the country. To an unaware public "Killer Cops" in many of these cases stay on the streets without prosecution. The people are not being served, period. The Jeff Sessions Department of Justice message is as long as you wear a badge "you are above the law"
In Baton Rouge people are shouting “no justice, no peace,” We must continue to ignite and set off, an international dialog-Our goal is to remove any blockage standing in resistance to the prosecution of those who are responsible for Sterling’s death. “The whole thing is not just about Alton … it’s about justice in all of our community nationally and internally.” I call it final justice because we the people are tired now. After Tamir Rice, after John Crawford, after Eric Garner, we are tired now, and the only alternative must be for change.
So we stand with Sandra Sterling and the Sterling Family because final justice means the killings of young black men and women has to end.” No more!
Freedom First International Executive Team
Video of the last Public Rally for Justice for Alton Sterling with Family members
Gregg L. Greer a Public Speaker, Minister, Social Activist, and the Editor of the One World internet journal. Greer is the Founder of Freedom First International a human rights NGO. Greer writes commentary on Apolitical America, Huffington Post, Daily Kos and others or listen to his radio podcast at OneWorld Talks -if you are interested in interviews from his and others of the brightest minds today, you can email him at oneworldtoday@gmail.com His website is www.gregglgreer.com