State of Emergency Declared in Charlotte, USA Following Increase in Violence

In response to ongoing protests over the killing of a Black man and escalating unrest in Charlotte, North Carolina, the state's governor declared a state of emergency in the city. Governor Pat McCrory also deployed National Guard units and highway patrols to assist local police. Mr. McCrory stated, "Any violence against citizens and police officers or destruction of property will not be tolerated." Barack Obama, the President of the United States, has also spoken by phone with the mayors of Charlotte and Tulsa, another city experiencing tensions. Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by police on Tuesday, September 30. The police claim he was armed during the encounter. Many people believe this killing was motivated by racial bias within police forces across America. The officer who shot Mr. Scott and the police chief of Charlotte are both Black. Although the initial protests over the killing of the 43-year-old were peaceful, clashes began after some protesters threw incendiary devices and stones at the police. Another individual was also killed during the unrest, which police say was due to the shooting of another civilian. Several police officers have also been injured. American police are accused of violence and racism in their treatment of Black individuals in the country. In this context, protesters took to the streets of Charlotte, USA, in response to the police killing of a Black man, leading to violent protests.