NAACP Hosts Press Conference For Alton Sterling But Ignores Sterling’s Family

One of the aunts of Alton Sterling revealed some interesting but disturbing news last week after the press conference to discuss the next step in the murder of Sterling was hosted by the NAACP. Things took an unusual turn when the President of the NAACP Baton Rouge chapter chose to ignore a relative of Sterling.

The event started late, and by the time local leaders, President Mike McClanahan and Vice President Reginald DeVold arrived, activist Silky Slim and one of Sterling’s aunt, Veda Washington Abusaleh, were already speaking at the podium.

Upon taking the podium, McClanahan explained that he and DeVold had been at the board meeting on the other side of town about relocating the Baton Rouge Zoo. He then began to call upon the police and city officials to fire the two officers involved in the shooting, Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni, who the Department of Justice chose not to charge.

McClanahan demanded the police release the 911 dispatch call and any video and audio footage of Alton Sterling “so that the community and concerned citizens can know what happens when the police comes upon the scene and also know what’s not to happen”. McClanahan also called upon elected officials to put together legislative actions to release the footage whenever these things happen and encouraged citizens to call their officials and demand the same. Upon finishing he asked if anyone had any questions.

“I just want to know why would you -why would y’all wait until these offices closed to have this meeting?” a woman later identified as Sterling’s other aunt asked.

Instead of responding McClanahan ignored her question and continued to ask if the media had questions. He then closed with “the fight continues,” and exited, and DeVold took the podium at that time to close the event, but then Sterling’s other aunt, Veda, announced that she had something to say.

“NAACP that’s (Rhonda?) Sterling, that’s Alton’s aunt asking you a question. You have to cut the godddamn snake off at his head, the tail is going to always follow. You have to cut the snake off at his head! My family is suffering and you have the audacity to walk out,” she demanded full of raw emotion. And yet no one from the NAACP thought to correct the situation.

She continued, “It was scheduled at this time, (inaudible)! It was set for this time because they don’t want to interfere with what’s going on inside here. You understand? They don’t want to interfere with the business part!…”

To the side you could hear spectators whispering, trying to understand how this turn of events came about, and it is said the DeVold explained to Reed that he had only been on the job three days and didn’t know the logistics of things. A quick Google search shows City Hall closes at 5pm.

When we got the opportunity to speak to Veda alone and offer our condolences while also trying to understand what we had just witnessed, she told us off camera that the NAACP has not given any money to the Sterling family, insuating that may be why McClanahan did not acknowledge the family as one would have expected.

“We don’t want the money, but these kids…” she said pointing to the children that were amongst a group of family she introduced us to, along with a member of the National Black Panther party.

We have reached out to the local NAACP office for a statement on the allegations, but no one has responded. One source says, McClanahan may be more familiar with another one of Sterling’s aunts, Sandra, who has not been doing well and did not attend the conference.

Today Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is expected to announce whether the state will file criminal charges against the two officers involved in the shooting, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II.

-Fancy

Sorry the video was choppy, but we were originally streaming it live and decided to later use.