When video began circulating of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old Black man, being murdered by Baton Rouge, Louisiana police, many of us were left feeling angry, traumatized from social media autoplays and helpless. What can we do? Writer and producer Issa Rae answered the question by starting a Go Fund Me scholarship fund for Sterling’s five children.
“Some of us feel helpless when these things happen, but that’s a small step,” Rae tweeted about the idea of creating a scholarship fund.
Can we got a scholarship fund going 4 #AltonSterling's son/kids? Some of us feel helpless when these things happen, but that's a small step.
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— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) July 6, 2016
The campaign hit the $200,000 goal in nine hours. In less than 24 hours, over $300,000 was contributed. Rae stated all funds raised will go to Alton Sterling’s family.
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Early the morning of July 5, 2016, a witness took video of Sterling being fatally shot by Baton Rouge police. The site Heavy.com reported:
The officers have been identified as Officer Blane Salamoni and Officer Howie Lake II. The officers, both 28-year-olds with less than five years with the department, have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Sterling was shot and killed about 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, The Advocate reports.
Sterling was selling CDs outside the Triple S Food Mart, at the corner of Fairfields Avenue and North Foster Drive, WAFB-TV reports.
Salamoni and Lake had responded to a disturbance call in which the caller said someone had been threatening him with a gun, police told the news station.
Baton Rouge Police have released few details about the shooting, including whether Sterling was armed. But a witness told The Advocate that Sterling did have a gun, but was not holding it or reaching for his pockets during the incident.
$200k in 9 hours. When we unite we are amazing. I am so proud of us. Thank u for thinking of #AltonSterling's kids: https://t.co/3jzH7yRBMc
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) July 7, 2016
“When we unite we are amazing,” Rae tweeted.
To donate to the #AltonSterling Family Scholarship, click here.
