Equality Louisiana Calls for Justice in Alton Sterling’s Death

The group Equality Louisiana has issued a statement on the death of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, who was killed in a confrontation with Baton Rouge police outside a convenience store.

Here's what Equality Louisiana Managing Director Dylan Waguespack had to say:

Friend,

Yesterday afternoon, 37-year old Alton Sterling was shot and killed by Baton Rouge police outside of a convenience store on North Foster Drive. A witness describes the two officers as “aggressive,” and cellphone video captured by a bystander shows the officers tackling Sterling to the ground and firing into his chest.

Equality Louisiana stands in solidarity with Alton Sterling’s family, the Baton Rouge community, and the Black Lives Matter movement as we mourn the loss of another life taken by police brutality.

We agree with State Representative Ted James in "calling for Chief Dabadie to layout the department’s body camera policy for public view and scrutiny. In instances where the proper operation of cameras is interfered with, punishment must be clear and severe. Those cameras are the eyes and ears of this community."

Activists from the Baton Rouge area are planning direct actions in response to the shooting. This Thursday, July 7th, you can attend a vigil and community meeting from 3 to 5 PM at the LSU African American Cultural Center.

RSVP to the vigil on Facebook if you can make it. We hope to see you there.