Hundreds of people gathered at the North Charleston City Hall Friday night for a rally and candlelight vigil for Walter Scott on the eve of his funeral.
At the peaceful vigil, speakers and organizers continued to call for calm, a week after Scott was shot and killed by a North Charleston Police officer. Scott’s death was videotaped by a bystander and the images of the shooting — he was shot five times in the back — have created a national firestorm.
Michael Slager, the officer involved in the shooting has been fired, arrested and charged with murder.
Friday night’s vigil followed isolated rallies and protests throughout North Charleston, particularly near the scene of Scott’s death.
Holding candles as winds picked up, protesters sang “Amazing Grace” and “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Across the parking lot, happy spring breakers laughed and giggled as they checked into their hotel, oblivious to the moment.
“I’m tired of so many people getting murdered,” said Tamika Myers, whose daughter, Sierra was killed in July 2013 while celebrating her 23rd birthday. She said she comes to a lot of vigils like this. “Will this change anything? Honestly, no. We plan so many vigils and nobody comes. Then people move on to something else. But I will keep coming for my daughter.”
But Drew, a rap manager who attended the rally with Swerve and Mr. Turned Up from their record lable Dogg House Entertainment, said just being there makes a statement.
“It always helps when everybody comes together,” Drew said. “Especially the young folks.”
Muhiyidin D’Baha, one of the principal organizers of all of the rallies and the point person in negotiations with city hall about creating a citizens review board, said he has been encouraged by the daily turn out.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for people to come rebuild their community and commit to rebuild and protect it for our future,” D’Baha said.
He said they will take a break Saturday in honor of Scott, then resume work on Sunday. Another group is planning a major rally Saturday afternoon, after Scott’s funeral
Scott’s funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at W.O.R.D. Ministries Christian Center in Summerville, S.C.
On Sunday, Al Sharpton will speak at Charity Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, at a service that both Mayor R. Keith Summey and the police chief, Eddie Driggers, are expected to attend.
Diontre Moore, stood at the back of the crowd holding a candle against his chest. He wore a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt, promoting the slogan that arose out of Ferguson and the similar police shooting of Michael Brown last year.
“No matter where you are in North Charleston, you could be stopped by the police,” Moore said. “Walter Scott could have been any of us.”
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