Dear MoveOn member,
Terence Crutcher, a father of four, was on his way home from class at Tulsa Community College when his car stalled in the middle of the road. Someone called the police. And instead of helping him, officers jumped out of their vehicles with guns drawn while helicopters circled in the sky filming the entire incident. Terence Crutcher needed help. But instead, he got a bullet.1
Terence Crutcher died because he was Black. There's no other reason for someone to be killed by police when they are unarmed, walking slowly away with their hands up. He posed absolutely no threat, and yet the officers in the helicopter can be heard on video saying, "That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something."2
To make matters worse, after Officer Betty Shelby killed him, Tulsa Police let Terence Crutcher bleed out on the street. He died in the hospital a few hours later.3
This kind of continued disregard for Black life is enraging. Officer Betty Shelby killed someone. She should not be on administrative leave, sitting at home collecting a paycheck. Terence Crutcher's family and local activists in Tulsa are calling for Officer Shelby to be arrested and criminally charged.
Let's join them and make sure this officer is held accountable.
Thanks!
—Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org
Sources:
1. "Black man fatally shot by Tulsa police was unarmed, chief says, as ‘disturbing’ video is released," The Washington Post, September 20, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/5818?t=5&akid=170087.10220574.vpWrz2
2. "Man killed by Tulsa police had no gun; video shows he had hands up," MPR, September 19, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/5816?t=7&akid=170087.10220574.vpWrz2
3. "Terence Crutcher Shot and Killed By Tulsa Police While Unarmed, Arms Raised," Jezebel, September 19, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/5821?t=9&akid=170087.10220574.vpWrz2
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