The National Action Network president spoke on Sunday morning at the Charity Baptist Church in North Charleston where he commended North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Eddie Driggers, who were both in attendance, for the arrest of former police officer Michael Slager in Scott's death.
Rev. Al Sharpton speaking at Charity Baptist Church. (Source: WCSC)
"What this mayor did is what we've asked mayors to do all over the country. Not 'do us a favor,' just enforce the law," Sharpton said.
Sharpton called for more black officers in the North Charleston Police Department and told church members to not let presidential candidates come to South Carolina without talking about police accountability.
Sharpton called for more black officers in the North Charleston Police Department and told church members to not let presidential candidates come to South Carolina without talking about police accountability.
Photo Source: Twitter
"I didn't come to start trouble, I came to stop trouble," Sharpton said.
Sharpton told the congregation that he was not anti-police, but "anti-police brutality" and referenced not only the video which captured Scott's shooting but other videos involving police that have made national news.
"There's been videos in other places, and they would not arrest them and charge them," Sharpton said."At least in the deep south, now you've got a bar that you've got to reach all over this country...to quit playing with the law. Either enforce the law or get out of law enforcement."
Walter Scott was shot and killed by a North Charleston police officer Saturday morning. (Photo source: Facebook)
Sharpton also addressed the National Bar Association's announcement that they were seeking the immediate arrest of North Charleston police officer Clarence Habersham who responded to the shooting on the cause that he "left material facts out of his report to police."
"A man writing false reports, handing it to his superiors should not expect his superiors to cover up for him including a black cop," Sharpton said."If they're lying, you go where the liars go. It's not about white cop, black cop. It's not about black and white, it's about right and wrong."
According to Sharpton, he was with the family of Michael Brown and Eric Garner when he learned about Walter Scott's shooting.
"One of the reasons we have not solved the problem of policing and crime is because many don't believe we can," Sharpton said.
"A man writing false reports, handing it to his superiors should not expect his superiors to cover up for him including a black cop," Sharpton said."If they're lying, you go where the liars go. It's not about white cop, black cop. It's not about black and white, it's about right and wrong."
According to Sharpton, he was with the family of Michael Brown and Eric Garner when he learned about Walter Scott's shooting.
"One of the reasons we have not solved the problem of policing and crime is because many don't believe we can," Sharpton said.
Sharpton also spoke about the bill Sen. Marlon Kimpson is working on, mandating all South Carolina police officers wear body cameras.
"If you can make a state law on cameras on police, then the NAACP and others can nationally say, 'If they do it in South Carolina, what's the excuse in Illinois and New York?'" Sharpton said.
Church members said the attendance at Sunday service is around 250 people, but today an estimated 500 showed up.
In a release, Sharpton said he was "invited to preach in North Charleston, SC, on Sunday and to help lead a healing prayer vigil that afternoon by local clergy who have worked on this case from the beginning."
At 3 p.m., Sharpton will be leading the prayer vigil at the site of Scott's death at Remount and Craig Roads in North Charleston.
Officials have said that the National President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. Charles Stelle, Jr., will also be in attendance at the church service and vigil.
Read More at: http://www.live5news.com/story/28769315/rev-al-sharpton-to-visit-charity-baptist-church-this-weekend
Watch Part one at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3vpoKNx29Y&feature=youtu.be
Watch Part two at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdxV7S8VZzE&feature=youtu.be
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