All of the Democrats who declared a run for president were on thin ice with the #BlackLivesMatter movement from the beginning, yet Hillary Clinton eventually (if sporadically) managed to embrace the movement on social media, tweeting her support and dropping the names of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling over the summer.
Alton Sterling Matters.
Philando Castile Matters.
Black Lives Matter. pic.twitter.com/GmUFN9sDH6— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
Also checking in that day was President Obama, who offered his condolences to the families of Sterling and Castile in a statement made from Poland, and Sen. Elizabeth “Me Too” Warren, who tweeted much more extensively in support of Black Lives Matter in a series of posts.
Sandra Bland. Freddie Gray. Michael Brown. Walter Scott. Tamir Rice. Eric Garner. Now Alton Sterling & Philando Castile. #blacklivesmatter
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 7, 2016
#blacklivesmatter must be more than a hashtag or trending topic every time a tragedy happens. We must all come together to make it true.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 7, 2016
No, officer-involved shootings didn’t end with that tweet, but the campaign’s interest in them seems to have faded. There were not one but four fatal police shootings in Los Angeles that drew protesters to the streets over the weekend and to a press conference Monday morning, where they shouted, “Let us in.”
Demonstrators shouting "Let us in" outside #LAPD Chief #CharlieBeck newser on #LAPD shootings @knx1070
— Ed Mertz (@edmertz_news) October 3, 2016
Protestors chanting outside "Let us in" outside LAPD presser on weekend OIS incidents. @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/IrTfZs8NAd
— Victoria Spilabotte (@VictoriaFOXLA) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/LAPeoplesMedia/status/782766347868442624
Late last week, police say they responded to two family disturbance calls to find Reginald Thomas, 36, a father of eight with another child on the way, holding a large knife under his left arm and a fire extinguisher in his right hand.
The incident didn’t end with a shooting; rather, police deployed two Tasers and then struggled with Thomas to apply a hobble restraint to his legs. Seeing Thomas in distress, they performed CPR but weren’t able to save him.
Thomas’s girlfriend told NBC Los Angeles police “knew he was disabled, they knew he was bipolar, they knew he was on social security, and they still killed him.”
#JRTHOMAS Was tazed and beat to death at the hands of the Pasadena , CA. police this AM , after calling the ? for help at his home . #BLM https://t.co/zolDWolGC0
— LIVEwithLovely (@LIVEwithLovely) October 1, 2016
#blacklivesmatter protest in #pasadena after #jrthomas died after being tased by police @CBSLA @CBSLATom pic.twitter.com/39YpyQ8a3t
— Ken Koller (@code20photog) October 1, 2016
#BLM protestors march to #pasadena police station. @CBSLA @CBSLATom pic.twitter.com/SKT47eBNBf
— Ken Koller (@code20photog) October 1, 2016
#JRThomas & #CarnellSnell in less than 24 hours of each other? Cali cops are expending bullets faster than we can breath in between deaths
— SayHerName (@StarmeshiaJ) October 2, 2016
As Twitchy reported, an 18-year-old was shot and killed by police Saturday afternoon, sparking protests within hours as word spread on social media that Carnell Snell had been shot in the back five times while fleeing from police with his hands up. Police say he was struck twice, in the torso and knee, after pulling a loaded .40-caliber handgun.
#LAPD Update: Loaded handgun was recovered from 18 yr old suspect in OIS in 77th Div pic.twitter.com/hAYIKmIDg4
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 3, 2016
The L.A. Times reports that on Sunday, a Latino man was shot when he turned on police holding what turned out to be a replica handgun with the orange safety tip blacked out with either paint or a pen. One resident told reporters she saw police fire on the man as he was on the ground, the police chief says body camera footage refutes that claim.
#LAPD Update: Replica gun recovered from OIS in Newton this wknd. The orange tip was painted to resemble a real gun. pic.twitter.com/ufSEC4SaOC
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 3, 2016
Witness never saw gun, but @LAPDHQ says this is the one an unidentified Latino man pointed them; they shot & killed him. More on @NBCLA 6pm https://t.co/yDZjUP1HSu
— Mekahlo Medina (@MekahloNBCLA) October 4, 2016
Protesters were on the streets Monday and marched on the police department.
Protest at site of #LAPD shooting in #SoLA. Police have asked protestors to get out of street. @CBSLA @EricaNochlin pic.twitter.com/xSuNigCbge
— Ken Koller (@code20photog) October 4, 2016
A few dozen people out here on Ascot heading toward LAPD building pic.twitter.com/m3di9RIyhU
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) October 4, 2016
Protestors march to Newton station after a Latino man was shot by officers Sunday night at 45th St. and Ascot Ave., many questions remain pic.twitter.com/l7y2dY37ex
— Allen J. Schaben (@alschaben) October 4, 2016
Protesters now chanting "LAPD shame on you" at motorcycle cop who is blocking traffic for them on Central Avenue
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) October 4, 2016
The #LAPD thanks everyone who gathered today to exercise their right to #freedom of speech & assembly in a #peaceful and #safe manner. pic.twitter.com/RRXsivZnsZ
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 4, 2016
Reminder: If you want to get on the air, you’d better put away the “F*** the Police” sign, or just sneak up behind a CNN reporter doing a live shot.
When you carry signs like that. I can't put you or anyone around you on TV. Just a little note to protestors. pic.twitter.com/MrWI1DKYlL
— stu mundel (@Stu_Mundel) October 4, 2016
Will Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren be tweeting any more names soon, or are they done doing that?
Join the conversation as a VIP Member