Protesters Block Entrance To Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center

AP Photo/Robert Petersen – Golden 1 Center
A metal detector lies in the foreground as demonstrators protesting the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man gather outside Golden 1 Center before the scheduled tipoff of an NBA basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 22, 2018.

After the shooting of an unarmed African-American man by police March 18, protesters blocked traffic on a major freeway artery and prevented ticketholders from entering Golden 1 Center to watch the Kings play the Atlanta Hawks in Sacramento, Calif., March 22.

The protests were peaceful, The Sacramento Bee reported, with no arrests and very little violence overall.

The activists began organizing around Sacramento City Hall in the afternoon and called for accountability in the shooting of 22-year-old Stephon Clark on the property of his grandparents. The protesters went on to the city’s I-5 freeway, and continued to the 17,500-capacity Golden 1 Center. 

The victim, a father of two, had 20 rounds fired at him by police, who thought Clark was pointing a weapon at them after a foot chase in the dark following a call on suspected burglary. Clark died with only a cellular phone next to his body, with no guns found in his possession. Video of the shooting has been released by police.

The Kings released a statement saying that the game began late and, because law enforcement was “unable to ensure ticketed fans could safely enter the arena,” the arena was closed and fans outside should go home, with details regarding refunds being promised. The arena was reportedly largely empty during the game.