Franklin Graham Sounds Off on Walter Scott Shooting
It happened again. A White police officer was caught on video shooting dead a black man. This time, it wasn’t a teenager. It was 50-year-old Water Scott.
The video shows him running away following a traffic stop. In what many are calling a clear-cut case, 33-year-old officer Michael Slager has been charged with murder.
Evangelist Franklin Graham, who some pastors, theologians and professors recently rebuked for his bold words about police officer shootings, isn’t backing down from his stance on obeying law enforcement.
“This death was unnecessary and avoidable. Unfortunately many in our society are faced with racial injustice, hatred and bigotry from those who are in authority, and this needs to be addressed,” Graham wrote on his Facebook page. “My post a few weeks ago about obeying law enforcement was meant to underscore the importance of trying to avoid more harm and loss of life.”
As a father and a grandfather, Graham said has given this advice to his own children: If you find yourself in an altercation with police, show respect and obey their instructions.
“Once a bullet leaves the barrel of a gun, there is no calling it back. I am praying for the family of Walter Scott and this community, and I hope you will join me,” Graham said. “We need to come together as a nation and with God’s help, address these critical issues for the sake of our future.”
