Students said the racial tensions in America continue to rise after another African American was shot outside of Charlotte, North Carolina on Sept. 20.Keith Lamont Scott, 43, and father of seven, was shot and killed by a police officer after reportedly refusing to cooperate with local law enforcement, according to CNN. Peaceful protests turned into riots, which continued through the night and all day Wednesday, according to CNN. Protests have recently calmed down, but there still remains no consensus as to if the right actions were taken during the riots, reported Fox News. According to the Huffington Post, U.S. police officers have killed at least 194 African American citizens this year. These deaths have sparked more conservation about the worldwide movement known as Black Lives Matter.Katie Bak, a senior from North Carolina majoring in peace¬building, said, “From what my family has said, these riots have made havoc in Charlotte.” Bak continued, “I believe that not much is being accomplished from these riots because of how the media covers both sides. You can turn on the news and find a station that tells the narrative of the situation in a way that pleases your perspective.”Junior Walter, a freshman from Hawaii majoring in information technology, said, “Although the BLM movement is well intentioned, it seems to me as something of a mob mentality.”According to CNN, the riots have resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage to businesses and personal property, as well as a few injuries of police officers and protesters involved. Walter continued, “I don’t totally agree with how they’ve executed their plans because sometimes things seem to get out of hand. Some of the circumstances are easily misinterpreted. We don’t always know the entire story.” Jonathan Comeau, a freshman from Haiti majoring in accounting, said, “The black community has a right to be upset and outraged. It’s a recurring thing that needs to be stopped, but the way that some people are reacting is out of line.”Comeau continued, “Everyone is being labeled negatively because of the reactions of a few people.” Comeau said there are extremists out there who represent each side of the story. Reports from the Charlotte Police Department stated Scott was carrying a gun at the time of his death, which led the police to take lethal action, according to CNN.
Writer: Zoe Rounesville
