In Charlotte, crowd heckles officials, seeks resignations

The Charlotte Observer (TNS)

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

A furious crowd of citizens criticized and often shouted down the Charlotte City Council on Monday night, calling for resignations across the city and chanting, “Hands Down! Shoot Back!” and “No Justice, No Peace!”

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, who allowed people to speak for two hours, repeatedly had to stop the meeting, pleading for quiet. Sometimes the crowd quieted to allow people to speak. At other times, her requests were met with heckles and chants for justice.

There have been larger crowds for some issues, like House Bill 2. But rarely, if ever, has Charlotte seen a council meeting as tense or passionate as Monday night.

Monday’s meeting was the first by council members since Tuesday’s fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, which led to days of protest throughout the city.

Hours before the meeting, Roberts said in an op-ed that the city’s “lack of transparency and communication” about the release of video footage in the Tuesday police shooting of Scott “was not acceptable.”

She also said she asked the U.S. Justice Department to monitor the state’s investigation into the fatal shooting, which led to several days of protests, some of them violent. Roberts also called for a review of the department’s use of force policies.

“Our city must be more open, honest, and transparent in investigating police shootings if we are to restore trust,” she wrote.

More than 40 people spoke about the Scott shooting and the city’s handling of the investigation and protests.

Some speakers were near tears. Others chanted and shouted down Roberts, who ran the meeting. Some called for her and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney to resign.

“I’m here to ask for Chief Putney’s and your resignation, mayor,” said speaker Henry Lee. “The way it was handled, the secrecy, the lies. We don’t deserve this.”