
Stephon Clark was shot eight times, including six times in the back, in his grandmother’s back yard In California. He was unarmed, and his death sparked protests across America about the prevalence of African American men dying at the hands of the police.
According to Gun Violence Archive, 3,646 people have died this year as a result of gun-related violence in the US.
And the statistics are just as grim when it comes to police-related deaths. In 2017, police officers killed 1,129 people. That’s more people than the total number of US soldiers killed in action around the world that same year.
The Police Violence Report states:
Black people were more likely to be killed by police, more likely to be unarmed and less likely to be threatening someone when killed.
In light of such damning figures, journalist Shirin Barghi embarked on project called #LastWords and made posters featuring the reported final utterances of people – whether it was immediately after being shot, close to the event, or even online via social media – before they were killed by police officers.
Here they are:
Christian Taylor.
"I don't wanna die too younggggg" #ChristianTaylor #lastwords #BlackLivesMatter #Ferguson http://t.co/0fDdUgAqM3— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1439232360
Freddie Gray.
"I can't breathe. I need a pump." #FreddieGray #LastWords #Baltimore #BlackLivesMatter #PoliceBrutality http://t.co/9vS5O2lbOe— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1430008463
Trayvon Martin.
"What are you following me for?" #trayvonmartin #lastwords #ferguson #michealbrown http://t.co/dNSvcKPvsF— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408044256
Lavon King.
"Why did you shoot me?" #LastWords #LavonKing #HandsUpDontShoot #FergusonOctober #Ferguson #BlackLivesMatter http://t.co/r6DUuvXfie— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1412886631
Kajieme Powell.
"Shoot me now. Kill me now." #KajiemePowell #ferguson #michaelbrown #lastwords http://t.co/vPRMDZGnny— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408642377
John Crawford.
"it's not real." #johncrawford #lastwords #ferguson #michaelbrown http://t.co/Etnvmaromx— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408585865
Michael Brown.
"I don't have a gun, stop shooting." #michaelbrown #lastwords #ferguson http://t.co/1lGXromMLa— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408585717
Eric Garner.
"I can't breathe." #michaelbrown #lastwords #ferguson #ericgarner http://t.co/LFHFcDe4VZ— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408585657
Kenneth Chamberlain.
"Officers, why do you have your guns out?" #lastwords #kennethchamberlain #ferguson http://t.co/vDCNnL5SVy— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408307423
Kimani Gray.
"Please don't let me die." #kimanigray #lastwords #policeagression #ferguson #michealbrown http://t.co/9oZNLJHg0n— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408104091
Amadou Diallo.
"Mom, I'm going to college." #AmadouDiallo #lastwords #ferguson #michealbrown #policeagression http://t.co/B0WbHO1BCU— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408103913
Kendrec McDade.
"Why did you shoot me?" #KendrecMcDade #lastwords #ferguson #michealbrown http://t.co/CobVpSvaAx— Shirin Barghi (@Shirin Barghi) 1408039992