Selma Protesters Demand Release of Deadly Police Shooting Video
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From the West Alabama Newsroom– A Selma activist is leading a protest demanding the release of video of a deadly police shooting and those rallying are taking a cue from protests in cities around the country.
The video is from the deadly confrontation between a Selma police officer and a man with a hatchet from a year ago. The incident was captured on video by a police body camera.
A Dallas County grand jury decided not to indict the officer.
“All we want to know is the truth,” said Selma activist Faya Rose Toure. “I’m not saying that the officer killed this man unjustifiably. That is not our issue. Our issue is show us the tape. “The officer may well be innocent but why leave this cloud of doubt.”
Police Chief William Riley says the immediate family of victim, Ananias Shaw — is welcome to see the video.
“We’re not going to release that video just to the general public and the family has not had an opportunity to see it,” said Riley. “What about the family? Who wants to wake up and cut on the television set and boom — and watch a loved one die?”
The Shaw shooting sparked a community debate about the use of deadly force by police. It led to an upgrade of the police department’s non-lethal arsenal with every officer now being equipped with tasers.
