Stephon Clark will never have a wedding day, so Sacramento Black Lives Matter crashed a wedding for one of the police officers who shot and killed the young father in March.
A video posted by the organization shows protesters confront the officer as he sat around a table with his groomsmen hours before he said his vows.
“I just wonder if you started planning your wedding before you killed Stephon Clark or after? How have you been sleeping since March 18?” one protester asked during the confrontation.
Sacramento police have refused to identify the officer, but BLM identified the groom as Terrance Mercadal, a black man. Mercadal and Jared Robinet, the other officer accused of shooting Clark, were publicly named by civil rights attorney John Burris in March, according to The Sacramento Bee.
When asked if this disruption went too far, BLM Sacramento founder Tonya Faison was unapologetic.
“I think they need to be approached in spaces where they’re a little more vulnerable,” Faison told CBS13.
She emphasized they were not violent and wanted accountability.
“We’re not violent, we’re not gonna give to them what they brought to our community, we’re not gonna hurt anyone but we are gonna make them uncomfortable, and they should because someone is dead,” Faison said.
Faison believes the wedding crash should serve as a reminder of what was taken away from Clark.
“Stephon Clark’s family is still mourning and suffering. He doesn’t get to be with his kids, or get married,” she said.
Sacramento Police say Robinet and Mercadal have needed additional security since the shooting due to death threats. They have also been removed from street patrol.
“People may think that these officers are just going about their lives, but this is a very traumatic event for everyone,” said Sgt. Vance Chandler.
Sacramento Police Officers Association (SPOA) President Timothy Davis released a statement defending the officers and advocating for transparency.
“The SPOA supports transparency within our Police Department. Transparency brings trust. Trust between our officers and the citizens they protect is an important aspect of a safe community. Our police officers are members of this community. They raise their families here. The send their children to schools here. They live their lives as a part of this community.
Transparency comes with responsibility. Officers deserve to be free from harassment by individuals seeking their own forms of justice. True accountability can only come from our impartial judicial system and from our elected government.
The SPOA will continue to advocate for transparency and thoughtful improvements in police policies, but we request the respect of our community. Give our officers the ability to safely raise their families alongside you.”
Clark died on March 18 when he was shot in the back eight times while standing in his grandmother’s backyard. The shooting is still under investigation.
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