Charlotte: Family releases video, cops under pressure

Charlotte, September 24 

The family of the African-American man whose death has triggered days of unrest in Charlotte, North Carolina, released a dramatic video of the police shooting yesterday, raising pressure on the authorities to make their own footage public.

The family of Keith Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, on Friday released a two-minute video recorded by Scott's wife, Rakeyia, including audio of her pleading with officers "Don't shoot him! He has no weapon" as they yell at Scott, "Drop the gun!" The police have refused to release body-cam and dash-cam video of the shooting on Tuesday, which they say shows Keith Lamont Scott posed officers a threat.

His death is the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across America. Charlotte has been rocked by three nights of violence-marred protests, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency in the southern US city.

Hundreds of protesters were out again yesterday calling for the release of the videos amid a greater presence of National Guard troops, but the atmosphere was calmer than during previous days. A curfew beginning at midnight is in effect for a second night after protesters defied the order on Thursday.

Hundreds of demonstrators were also marching in the southern city of Atlanta in a protest calling for police reform organized by the NAACP, the black community's main civil rights organisation. Charlotte's case has also touched the US presidential race, with Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign announcing her plan to visit the city on Sunday before postponing it to a week later after Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts asked both major candidates to delay visits, citing "very stretched resources for security."

Clinton weighed in about the video issue earlier Friday, tweeting that police should release its footage "without delay." — AFP