Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Alton Sterling’s 15 year-old son calls for peace: 'Please, no more violence'

The son of the man killed in the hands of law enforcement has spoken out

 

Rachael Revesz
New York
Wednesday 13 July 2016 15:05 BST
Comments
Cameron, 15, is comforted by relatives and friends
Cameron, 15, is comforted by relatives and friends (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

“Protest the right way,” Cameron Sterling, the son of Alton Sterling, told the crowd.

"Protest with peace, not guns, alcohol and violence. Everyone needs to protest the right way. Not with violence.”

The 15-year-old was speaking at a press conference for the first time since his father was shot dead by a white police officer.

“I feel that people in general, no matter what their race is, should come together as one family,” Cameron said.

“There should be no more arguments, disagreements, crimes, everyone should come together as one family."

“This [death] should give everyone a push to come together and not be against each other,” he added.

Police had reportedly received a call from a homeless person saying that Mr Sterling had threatened him with a weapon. When police arrived, Mr Sterling was selling CDs in his usual spot outside a convenience store.

They slammed him to the ground and, with two police officers holding him down, shot him several times in the chest and the back.

“I truly feel that my father was a good man and he will always be a good man,” said his son.

Warning: Video contains graphic content

Alton Sterling 2nd video

“I want to thank everyone that has supported us, I want to thank you all very much,” Cameron added, referring to his siblings and his mother.

Cameron had broken down in sobs during the first press conference hours after his father’s death, during which his mother spoke to the crowd.

“I want my daddy,” he called out repeatedly.

Days after Mr Sterling was shot, police in Minnesota also shot dead cafeteria manager Philando Castile who was reaching into his pocket to show his license to police officers.

The deaths spurred protests around the country.

A large protest in Dallas went horribly wrong after one man, unaffiliated to Black Lives Matter, gunned down five white police officers and wounded seven more.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in