#BlackLivesMatter: Another Black Man Shot in Atlanta in a Confrontation with Police

Another Black man has been killed by the police. Rayshard Brooks was killed in a confrontation with police in Atlanta on June 12. Two white police officers arrived at a Wendy’s in Atlanta because Brooks had fallen asleep. Brooks then failed a sobriety test and struggled with police when they tried to cuff him.

Brooks wrestled with a police officer and ran away after taking a Taser from the police officer. He pointed the Taser at the officer and then the officer fired his weapn at Brooks. An autopsy found two gunshot wounds in his back and listed the cause of death as a homicide.

His niece, Chassidy Evans, said in a statement, “Rayshard had a family who loves him, who would have gladly came and got him so he could be here with us today.”

The police officer that shot Brooks has been fired and the Atlanta police chief, Erika Shields, resigned a day after the shooting. The mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, of Atlanta spoke about the tragedy.

“While there may be debate as to whether this was an appropriate use of deadly force, I firmly believe that there is a clear distinction between what you can do and what you should do,” she said. “I do not believe that this was a justified use of deadly force.”

Brooks’ death led to demonstrations in the city and protestors set fire to the Wendy’s where Brooks was killed. Protests have continued across the United States to end police brutality.

Read all our coverage on the protests against racism in One Green Planet:

• #BlackLivesMatter: 10 Inspiring Black Voices Diversifying the Environmental Movement
• #BlackLivesMatter: Victory! NY Repeals 50-A Requiring Full Disclosure of Police Misconduct
• #BlackLivesMatter: Louisville Bans “No-Knock” Raids After Breonna Taylor Was Killed
• #BlackLivesMatter: Killing Black Americans is a Public Health and Human Rights Crisis
• Petition: Justice for Breonna Taylor, Black Woman Killed by Police in her Own Home

Here’s what you can do:

Many organizations like Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, and the NAACP are working to empower black Americans and achieve justice for those impacted by racist systems.

Also, remember to register to vote if you haven’t already. This is one of the simplest ways to make your voice heard as a citizen.Here are some resources for you:

Places to Donate:

• Donate to Black Lives Matter here.
• Get involved with your local BLM chapter: The full list is here or start your own.
• Many protestors are getting arrested and being held. Donate to bail funds in your city, here or here.
• HBCUBuzz has a listing of lawyers and legal resources for protestors, organized by state.
• Resources and donations by the National Police Accountability Project.
• Learn about Campaign Zero, which works to end police violence in America.
• The New York Times has put together an anti-racist reading list.
• National Black Bailout Fund, which works towards ending systems of mass incarceration and freeing imprisoned black mothers.
• Visit Louisville Community Bail Fund to contribute towards bail for protesters in Louisville.

Petitions to Sign:

• Justice for George Floyd
• Petition to end medical racism
• Justice for Breonna Taylor
• Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
• Justice for Tony McDade, Black trans man killed by police
• Sign the “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org
• Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice.

For a more extensive resource list, please see the collection put together by Black Lives Matter.

Through this grief and anger, we must unite and work together to create the change we want to see. Let’s make sure no black child has to ever say these heartbreaking words ever again.

If you’re attending a protest, please be safe and careful and maintain social distancing, if possible.