Charlotte Shooting Update: Curfew Ends; Peace To Return In Embattled City? [VIDEO]
After a series of violent protests that resulted from the police shooting of 43-year-old Keith Scott almost a week ago, the city of Charlotte is slowly reverting back to peace. It has almost been a week since the controversial death of Scott, whose death at the hands of police officers ultimately proved to be a trigger for widespread protests, and furious debates about the issue of racial bias in the United States.
As of Monday, the city of Charlotte has lifted its midnight curfew. The state of emergency that was declared in the city during the height of demonstrations protesting Scott's death has also been lifted. Slowly, the normalcy in the city is beginning to return, according to CNN.
The weekend saw demonstrations continue, though the protests on Saturday and Sunday were largely more peaceful than those during the immediate aftermath of the controversial police shooting. Charlotte even hosted an NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. No untoward incidents were reported during the game as well.
About 100 protesters gathered across the street from the Bank of America Stadium. They were surrounded by police on bicycles. The NFL game paid tribute to the ongoing tension in the city as well, with protesters dropping to one knee during the national anthem. Even Carolina safety Marcus Ball showed his disapproval of the controversial shooting, raising is first during the anthem, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The death of Keith Scott at the hands of police officers has sparked massive protests that ultimately shook Charlotte. During the fatal incident on September 20, police officers who were on their way towards another suspect opted to apprehend Scott, who was allegedly holding a gun. As Scott backed away from his vehicle, he was shot multiple times in the chest.
Fueling tensions was the fact that initial footage recorded by Scott's wife appeared to show no gun in the scene at all. The late Scott's family contends that the slain main was holding a copy of the Qu'ran, not a gun, during the incident.