Remembering the Life of Walter Scott: A poignant commentary from Avery Research Center on the anniversary of his passing

Yesterday, April 4, on the ninth anniversary of the untimely slaying of Walter Scott, the Avery Research Center put out an emotional tribute and reflection on the life of Walter Scott who was taken away on April 4, 2015 in North Charleston.

We are so thankful to Avery Research Center and College of Charleston for keeping the conversation going with poignancy and thoughtfulness.

On this day in history, April 4, 2015, Walter Scott was killed in an officer-involved shooting. He was born on February 9, 1965 in North Charleston, South Carolina. Scott served in the U.S. Coast Guard for two years and worked vocational jobs in the Charleston area after his discharge. He came from a large family and was himself a father of four.

His death at the hands of former North Charleston police officer Michal Slager, which was caught on film by eyewitness Feidin Santana, led to a public indictment of the culture of policing in the Tri-County area.

While Slager alleged that Scott gained control of his taser, prompting him to fire his weapon, Santana’s footage proved otherwise. In the video, Scott never gained control of Slager’s taser and was running away when Slager shot him in the back. The video further revealed Slager tampering with evidence.

In 2015, Slager was indicted for Scott’s murder, pleaded guilty to charges of civil rights violations and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Scott’s death helped launch a South Carolina law that required all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. While it was marketed as a tool to ensure trust in and transparency from law enforcement, it has not been a solution to the issue of police crimes.

Today we commemorate Walter Scott’s memory and how his life and death have prompted us to think more critically about and take action against the impact of over policing of our communities.

Image: Michael Scott, undated (courtesy of ABC News)

Banner Photo Description and Credit: Judy Scott holds a photo of her son, Walter Scott, in Charleston, South Carolina Thursday. Photograph: Randall Hill/Reuters