To: CNN
Stop disrespecting Black men killed by police -- Justice for #AltonSterling
It's racially biased for CNN to respond to the death of Alton Sterling—the 114th Black man to be killed by police this year—by using an old mugshot in its news coverage of his death. CNN must stop this disrespectful, damaging, and racist coverage of Black men killed by police.
Why is this important?
Alton Sterling was a 37-year-old father of five, highly active in his community. His killing at the hands of Baton Rouge police officers—caught on camera and now seen around the world—has reignited calls for police accountability and an end to the police violence that disproportionately impacts communities of color across the country.
Alton was shot and killed by police while selling CDs in a convenience store parking lot. People are already speaking out to demand police reform and accountability. And the Department of Justice has already stepped in to take over the investigation.
But CNN has chosen—again—to criminalize Alton Sterling by using an old mugshot, despite the many recent photos of Alton on Facebook and those provided by his grieving family. This is not how Alton should be remembered or portrayed, and CNN’s continuous use of mugshots to depict the Black men killed by police reinforces dangerous, racist images of the same Black men who are brutalized by police.
CNN must do better. Tell CNN to honor the memory of Alton Sterling and to stop using mugshots in their coverage of Black men shot and killed by police.
Alton was shot and killed by police while selling CDs in a convenience store parking lot. People are already speaking out to demand police reform and accountability. And the Department of Justice has already stepped in to take over the investigation.
But CNN has chosen—again—to criminalize Alton Sterling by using an old mugshot, despite the many recent photos of Alton on Facebook and those provided by his grieving family. This is not how Alton should be remembered or portrayed, and CNN’s continuous use of mugshots to depict the Black men killed by police reinforces dangerous, racist images of the same Black men who are brutalized by police.
CNN must do better. Tell CNN to honor the memory of Alton Sterling and to stop using mugshots in their coverage of Black men shot and killed by police.