Demonstrators Block Traffic, March into Uptown
CHARLOTTE, NC — More than 100 protesters marched through the evening, unsatisfied with the mistrial.
"He was shot one times, two times, three, four times, five times, and I’m not even half way there!” shouted one demonstrator.
Their message: Justice for Jonathan.
Some were face down in the street, the position prosecutors say Jonathan Ferrell was in after Officer Wes Kerrick shot the unarmed man 10 times.
His defense: Ferrell was on top of him, trying to get to his gun until the final bullet.
“We’re angry, we’re sad, we’re mourning,” said Ashley Williams. “We’re using this opportunity to let the community know that we’re standing with them in terms of what they’re feeling right now.”
Police followed as they walked into the heart of Uptown Charlotte.
“We as an organization will continue to support the rights of all individuals who want to assemble and demonstrate lawfully,” said CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney. “That law is fundamental to the fabric of a free society and one that our organization takes very seriously.”
At one point, demonstrators walked down 4th Street, crossing through police and their barrier at McDowell.
WCCB Charlotte’s Courtney Francisco was with them as they got on the ground to block traffic.
“We are still initiating our peaceful protests,” said Activist John Barnett. “Reality of what we’re doing today is we are exercising our First Amendment right to assembly as long as we’re not disturbing the peace and causing a riot.”
Sunday, Barnett is holding an action rally at Redemption Christian Ministries at 3:10 pm.
