Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on Tuesday said the video that appears to show a white South Carolina police officer shooting a black man in the back was “troubling” and noted that he thought the shooting was “avoidable.”
“The horrific video that came to light yesterday is deeply troubling. It is clear the killing of Walter Scott was unnecessary and avoidable, and my prayers are with the Scott family as they go through this ordeal,” Scott said in a Wednesday statement.
North Charleston, S.C., Patrolman Michael Thomas Slager was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder for the shooting death of Walter Scott. A video posted online appears to show Slager shooting Scott numerous times in the back as Scott runs away.
Police said that Slager allegedly shot Scott after he already used a stun gun on the man following a traffic stop on Saturday. Slager alleged that he felt threatened and that Scott tried to grab his stun gun from him, according to police.
Sen. Scott on Wednesday called on anyone protesting the death of Walter Scott to remain peaceful.
“With several protests planned today, I join community leaders in North Charleston in calling for peace. I understand the hurt, the frustration and the anger many are feeling today. But violence solves nothing,” Scott said in his statement. “We must come together as a community, as a state, and as a nation in working to bring our communities together and rebuild trust.”
NOThing IS moRE threATEning than a BLACK man RUNNIng away FRom you. THat POLice must HAve been scared FOR his LIFE!1!!!one!!1!!!
“We must come together as a community, as a state, and as a nation in working to bring our communities together and rebuild trust.”
What? This sounds like the beginnings of a good word salad. How about we come together as a nation to address runaway police brutality? There will be no trust–none–unless this issue is dealt with head on. And, you, sir, are in a very good position to help lead – if you so choose. Thank you.
Calling the shooting of someone in the back “avoidable” doesn’t sit right in my mind.
“Reprehensible” makes more sense.
Oh, I don’t think you’re giving this statement its due: it is, after all, coming from the GOP’s Chamber Tim. Yes, it’s so heavily conditioned and qualified you can hear the invocation of “Sorry for saying this” and “Pardon me for commenting at all” and “Excuse me if I’m overstepping my bounds” with such a level of frequency as is rarely witnessed outside of Canada, but it’s still amazing that he had the timerity to say anything even remotely resembling the possibility of a mild criticism.
Tim may be in big trouble, did he get the OK from massa to comment on this?