Yesterday, an Ohio grand jury elected not to return an indictment of Cleveland police who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice after he appeared to reach for a gun in his waist band.
The gun turned out to be a fake, and the case grabbed national attention as one of the premiere cases in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Yesterday’s decision sparked outrage from celebrities, activists, and politicians. As protesters took to the streets of Cleveland, Twitter exploded with reaction.
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
They killed this little boy in cold blood & get 2 walk free. Im sick 2 my stomach. I hope they nvr get a good night sleep again. #TamirRice
— Amanda Seales ???????? (@amandaseales) December 28, 2015
"Split second decision"? How many assumptions/stereotypes about race do u make in split seconds? #TamirRice #BlackLivesMatter
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) December 28, 2015
White people holding a gun? For safety. 2nd amend rights.
Black people holding a gun? Violent, a threat.#BlackLivesMatter #TamirRice
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) December 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/681556818229899264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/681557094491926528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#JohnCrawford shot dead in a Walmart in Ohio. #TamirRice, 12, shot dead in Cleveland. Open carry don't mean a damn thing for us
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) December 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/tanehisicoates/status/681552349874241536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
140 characters can't describe this gross injustice. I'm numb. #TamirRice
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) December 28, 2015
#TamirRice was 12. He was not a threat. He should not have been killed by the police #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/47CmIBSDfK
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) December 28, 2015
So, 2 guys can drive up to a Black child playing in the park & kill him. No trial.#NoJustice #TamirRicewas12
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) December 28, 2015
Praying for #TamirRice’s family.No child shld ever lose their life for playing w/ a toy in the park. We need action to stop these tragedies.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) December 28, 2015
THIS is what we call character assassination of a DEAD 12-year-old kid #TamirRice. F U #TimMcGinty and #MattMeyer https://t.co/h3vVXRlt5J
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) December 28, 2015
The prosecutor today reminded us that he doubles as the defense attorney for the police. #TamirRice
— deray (@deray) December 28, 2015
no justice, no peace.
— deray (@deray) December 28, 2015
The prosecutor on the Tamir Rice case needs to resign now. No, not for failing. For not trying. Me, in @NewRepublic. https://t.co/K717BrWrzM
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) December 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/goldietaylor/status/681616396200075264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
A video of the incident follows:
This report, by Casey Harper, was cross-posted by arrangement with the Daily Caller News Foundation.