More than 100 people gathered Thursday in Hearne, Texas, to protest the fatal police shooting of a 93-year-old African-American woman. Witnesses say Pearlie Golden, known as Ms. Sully, was shot at least five times outside her home on Tuesday. Authorities say Golden had a gun when a police officer arrived following a reported dispute with her nephew, who was trying to take away her car keys after she failed a driver’s test. The officer involved, Stephen Stem, previously shot dead an African-American man in 2012, but was cleared by a grand jury. Stem has been on the police force for less than two years. Protesters spoke to the local Eagle newspaper.
Resident: “Everybody treated fair. We went through the same thing last year and didn’t nobody do nothing about it. We just need something done. You can’t keep doing it and don’t nobody have consequences for their actions. We want something done, that’s it. Ain’t no threats or nothing being made out. We just want something done. We need help.”
William Foster III: “We’re thinking about justice and for us to find out what is going to be done about an injustice. That’s what we’re thinking about.”
Protesters: “What do we want?” “Justice!” “What do we want?” “Justice!”
Stem has been placed on paid administrative leave. Hearne Mayor Ruben Gomez says he will recommend the officer be fired at a city council meeting on Saturday.