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At Stephon Clark ‘Peace Rally,’ Former Sacramento King Matt Barnes Vows To Be ‘Driving Force’ For Police Reform, Racial Justice

  •  Sammy Caiola 
  •  Nick Miller 
Saturday, March 31, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
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Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Rev. Shane Harris and former Sacramento Kings player Matt Barnes hold Stephon Clark’s children, Cairo, 1, and Aiden, 3, while addressing the crowd gathered Saturday, March 31, for a peace rally organized by Barnes at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Former NBA player Matt Barnes stood at a microphone and opened up about explaining Stephon Clark’s death to his kids.

“I got two 9-year-old boys that look just like this, and I fear for them,” the former Sacramento Kings player and hometown favorite told a crowd at Cesar Chavez Plaza on Saturday afternoon. “How do we explain to our kids that just because of the color of your skin, people aren’t going to like you? That’s not fair. But that’s something you have to explain to your kids every day.”

Barnes openly discussed issues of being black in America, policing and equity at what was coined a “peace rally” to honor Clark, whose immediately family — including his widow and children — attended.

At one point, Barnes held one of Clark's sons and promised to be a “driving force” in the fight for reform.

“This is not a Sacramento problem, this is a nationwide problem,” said Barnes, who also helped organize and pay for the event.

033118Stephon Clark Peace Rally Crowd -pPeople gather at a peace rally held at Cesar Chavez Plaza on March 31 as a call for justice for Stephon Clark, who was shot and killed by Sacramento police on March 18, and other unarmed black men killed by police throughout the country.Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

 

The occasion also featured religious leaders and community organizers, who voiced support for police reforms and increased investment in Sacramento’s neighborhoods of color. Clark’s family members also gave heartfelt speeches.

Kristena Rodriguez-Johnson, who said her son was Clark’s best friend and described herself as “a second mother to Stephon,” talked about how Clark loved Sacramento and being a father.

“Nothing we can do is gonna bring him back, but I pray to God that we bring change,” Rodriguez-Johnson said. “I’m so worried I have to teach them [our children] to put their hands up and get down on their knees.”

Jamilia Land, who introduced herself as Clark’s aunt, talked about his brother Ste’Vante Clark’s public outbursts. “His brother Ste’Vante is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder,” she claimed, adding that Ste’Vante Clark has now lost two siblings to gun violence.

“This is why this baby says ‘We need a resource center,’” she said of Ste’Vante Clark, who has asked Mayor Darrell Steinberg to build a library and a 24-hour resource center in his brother’s Meadowview neighborhood.

“Where are the mental health professionals in our community? He needs help,” Land told the audience.

033118Stephon Clark Peace Rally Aunt Jamilia Land -p
Stephon Clark's aunt, Jamilia Land, speaks at a peace rally for Clark held at Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento on March 31, 2018.Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

 

The rally came nearly two weeks after officers shot Stephon Clark in the backyard of his grandparents’ Meadowview home. His grandmother, Sequita Thompson, was in attendance at Saturday’s event.

Barnes vowed to not give up on pursuing change. “You have my word, being from here, that I’m going to do everything. I’m sitting down with the mayor, I’m sitting down with the gang leaders, and I’m going to be in your community and I’m going to be the driving force behind Sacramento,” he said.

At the rally’s end, Barnes announced that he would form a college fund for Clark’s sons and other children who’ve lost a parent to police violence. 


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    More about Stephon Clark

  • Family courtesy photo via AP

    The Latest: Shooting Of Stephon Clark

    On Sunday, March 18, 2018, Stephon Clark was shot and killed by two Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandparents' house in South Sacramento. Check back here for the latest updates, conversations and analysis.

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  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    National Action Network's Rev. Shane Harris Brings Social Justice Activism To Sacramento

    Wednesday, April 4, 2018
    Rev. Shane Harris is relocating to Sacramento after the police shooting death of Stephon Clark to work with former NBA player Matt Barnes on bringing change to the city.
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    Former NBA Player Matt Barnes Joins Movement For Change Following Stephon Clark Shooting

    Monday, April 2, 2018
    Former NBA player Matt Barnes shares why he's decided to get involved in the Stephon Clark case, and CapRadio reporter Sammy Caiola gives the latest on the weekend's protests.
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    Political Junkie: Stephon Clark And The National Stage

    Monday, April 2, 2018
    No tweets from President Trump after another police shooting has Ken Rudin taking notice.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Demonstrators March For Nearly Five Hours In Sacramento After Release Of Stephon Clark Autopsy

    Friday, March 30, 2018
    The Clark family commissioned an independent autopsy, which indicated that the unarmed black 22-year-old was shot eight times, most of them in the back. Protests in the streets lasted past midnight.
  • Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

    Independent Autopsy Finds Stephon Clark Shot Eight Times, Most In The Back

    Friday, March 30, 2018
    The Clark family hired Bennet Omalu — a nationally renowned physician — to perform the autopsy. Sacramento County has yet to release its official autopsy.

 Stephon Clarkpolice shooting

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Nick Miller

Managing Editor, News and Information

Nick Miller is an award-winning editor with more than 15 years of newsroom experience. Previously he was editor-in-chief of the East Bay Express in Oakland, and worked as an editor for 12 years at the Sacramento News & Review.  Read Full Bio 

 @NickMiller510 Email Nick Miller

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