Photo courtesy Terence Crutcher's family
A number of prominent figures are speaking out following the death of Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a police officer Friday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"We have got to tackle systemic racism," Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Tuesday on Steve Harvey's radio show. "This horrible shooting again. How many times do we have to see this in our country?" she pondered, adding: "This is just unbearable. And it needs to be intolerable."
Harvey has added his own thoughts: "Four police officers ... four people can't whoop one [man]?" he asked. "I'm not sure what all was said ... But y'all couldn't tackle the man?"
Pusha T also took to Twitter early Tuesday, writing: "To all law enforcement around the country, YOUR SILENCE IS SICKENING!!! #TerenceCrutcher was MURDERED!!"
D.L. Hughley has subsequently called out athletes such as Jerry Rice and Ray Lewis for blasting San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand for the national anthem before recent games. "I wish all of them were just as upset about Terence Crutcher getting shot down as they were about Colin Kaepernick not standing up,” he said.
Selma director Ava DuVernay also tweeted: "Who do we regard as criminal? The white woman? Or the black man?" she asked, nodding to Betty Shelby, the while female officer who shot Crutcher and is now on paid leave. "Constructions of criminality from long ago are at work," DuVernay added.
Actress Rashida Jones also expressed discontentment, tweeting earlier today: "This requires everyone's outrage," she said. "It needs to stop."
Additionally, the likes of Meek Mill, Mark Ruffalo, Lecrae, Larry Wilmore, Malcolm Jenkins and others have spoken out about Crutcher's death, which is one of several recent police-involved killings of unarmed black men.
While many questions remain, dashcam footage and audio released Monday by the Tulsa Police Department shows Crutcher's SUV stalled in the middle of the road and he is seen pacing behind his vehicle with his hands up when police arrive on the scene.
It's unclear what exactly happens in the brief moments prior, but four officers are seen in the video approaching Crutcher, whose hands are seen touching the top of his vehicle before being shot mere seconds later.
His body is then seen falling to the pavement, where he remains for nearly two minutes before anyone returns to check on him. He was later taken to a local hospital, where he eventually died.
Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said Monday he found the dashcam footage "very disturbing," assuring Crutcher's family and the community: "I will make this promise to you ... We will achieve justice in this case."
Update: The Tulsa district attorney has filed first-degree manslaughter charges against Betty Shelby, the officer who fired the fatal shot at Terence Crutcher.
Who do we regard as criminal? The white woman? Or the black man? Constructions of criminality from long ago are at work. #TerenceCrutcher
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) September 20, 2016
To all law enforcement around the country, YOUR SILENCE IS SICKENING!!! #TerenceCrutcher was MURDERED!!
— King Push (@PUSHA_T) September 20, 2016
#terencecrutcher
— Rashida Jones (@iamrashidajones) September 20, 2016
This requires everyone's outrage. It needs to stop. https://t.co/fYji4fixeA
So tired of seeing these videos. When do the people who pay taxes get protection? #TerenceCrutcher pic.twitter.com/MkVH2F7js5
— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) September 20, 2016
We weren't made to become hashtags. #TerenceCrutcher https://t.co/HypZTFkNw5
— Lecrae (@lecrae) September 19, 2016
Football players take a knee because this keeps up. KING: Arrest the Tulsa officer who killed Terence Crutcher https://t.co/54UTZs5KaX
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) September 20, 2016