8:59pm: A father and son walked up Trade Street to Tryon Street Wednesday, 9/21/16, during protests over the police killing of Keith Scott the day before. I saw several families there together, joining in to make a statement. (David Boraks/WFAE)
8:52pm: Police walked down Trade Street toward the Omni Hotel in downtown Charlotte 9/21/16 after violence broke out during protests over the killing of Keith Scott. (David Boraks/WFAE)
8:40pm: Tear gas sent people running away from the Omni. (David Boraks/WFAE)
8:40pm: In front of the Omni. (David Boraks/WFAE)
8:39pm: Police used tear gas to push the crowd back in front of the Omni, just moments after a protester was shot. Police said another civilian shot the 26-year-old man, who later died. (David Boraks/WFAE)
8:36pm: People threw metal and flower pots and other debris at a police vehicle that was trying to leave, just after the protester was shot. (David Boraks/WFAE)
8:00pm: One group of protesters marched from Marshall Park to Little Rock AME Zion Church, to hear speeches of unity. (David Boraks/WFAE)
6:21pm: I followed the early protesters down Trade Street to police headquarters. (David Boraks/WFAE)
6:19pm: This woman sent a message with her hands. (David Boraks/WFAE)
6:13pm: The peaceful protest marched to police headquarters on Trade Street for more chanting. (David Boraks/WFAE)
6:12pm: Protesters stood on a wall in front of police headquarters. (David Boraks/WFAE)
5:41pm: A peaceful protest by professionals and students began the evening, outside Bank of America headquarters. (David Boraks/WFAE)
5:27pm: Courtney Stokes of Northwest School of the Arts recited a poem she wrote, celebrating black identity and challenging the majority population to take notice. (David Boraks/WFAE)
5:27pm: Young protesters gathered outside Bank of America headquarters after work. (David Boraks/WFAE)
5:23pm: The early protest at Trade & Tryon. (David Boraks/WFAE)
4:54pm: Protesters began to arrive at Trade & Tryon after work. (David Boraks/WFAE)
It’s a been a crazy week in Charlotte, triggered by Tuesday’s police shooting of Keith Scott in northeast Charlotte. Protesters have been out nightly since then.
A few people have come downtown to cause trouble, and that’s getting most of the national news media attention.
That’s not right.
Most of the protests have been civil, giving voice to people with legitimate concerns about injustices and how police treat African Americans. Many are there to send a message to the wider community about being black, and demanding an equal place here.
My colleagues and I at WFAE have been working daily and overnight to try and paint a full picture of the events – beyond what the 24-hour news channels stream live. (They may be 24 hours, but they only stream the violence here, not the meetings and quiet protests by people calling for unity – and recognition.)
I’m proud to say my colleagues and I have been a big part of NPR’s national coverage of what’s going on here. It’s been a lot of extra work – but it’s an important story.
This video was shot around 8:40pm on Trade Street, across from the Omni Hotel, moments after a 26-year-old man was shot in the head by another civilian. That sparked a night of violence downtown, after peaceful protests earlier.
David Boraks 