National Football League

The Latest: Protesters kneel during NFL game anthem

Published Sep. 25, 2016 2:43 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Latest on protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the fatal police shooting of a black man (all times local):

1:20 p.m.

About 100 protesters kneeled outside the stadium in Charlotte as the national anthem was played before the NFL game inside.

The protesters chanted along to the beat of a brass band, and then were drowned out by noise from inside the stadium. Fans gathered along the ramps inside the stadium and watched the scene below before the Vikings and Panthers game.

Officers wearing black riot gear ringed the stadium, and police on bicycles lined up wheel-to-wheel to surround the protesters - demonstrating after the shooting death last week of a man by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer.

When the national anthem was played, the protesters all dropped to one knee as many NFL players have been doing for weeks to call more attention to issues including police shootings. Inside the stadium, Carolina safety Marcus Ball raised his fist during the anthem.

---

1 p.m.

A group of around 100 demonstrators have gathered across the street from Bank of America Stadium to protest the shooting death last week of a man by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer.

The protesters, holding signs and led by a man on a bullhorn, were surrounded by at least two dozen police officers on bicycles on Sunday afternoon.

Their message competed with the noise of fans streaming toward the stadium and an impromptu jazz band playing tunes less than a block away.

Inside the stadium, people attending the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers watched the protesters from access ramps to the upper level.

---

12:20 p.m.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is planning to be back in North Carolina ahead of her rescheduled trip to Charlotte.

Her campaign says the candidate will speak at a Democratic Party event Tuesday at Wake Technical Community College. She plans to speak about her economic proposals and that she says will help families.

The Democratic presidential nominee had been scheduled to visit Charlotte on Sunday but pushed off the trip at the request of city officials, who said the city needed to heal after last week's police shooting death.

Clinton's campaign has said that she now plans to visit the city Sunday, Oct. 2 ''if circumstances allow.''

---

Noon

About the most activity Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have seen outside Bank of America Stadium is the stream of fans thanking them for their work or taking pictures with them.

Dressed in their black riot gear and enduring temperatures well into the 80s, officers posed for pictures with fans of both the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings.

Extra security ringed the stadium prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff. The beefed-up security included troopers from the N.C. Highway Patrol and their vehicles.

While National Guard troops were stationed downtown the previous three nights, none were visible at the stadium.

Security around the stadium and downtown has been increased in light of recent protests over the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer last Tuesday.

---

11:15 a.m.

About 50 Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers dressed in riot gear received an ovation from fans waiting to get into Bank of America Stadium for Sunday's NFL game.

Security around the stadium was increased in light of recent protests over the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer last Tuesday. In addition to the regular contingent of police officers, North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers placed vehicles on the street surrounding the stadium. Officers in full gear were stationed about every 50 feet along the stadium's east perimeter.

After two nights of violence, protesters have marched peacefully through the city's downtown business district for the last three nights.

---

10 a.m.

Protests in Charlotte remained peaceful for another night after the release of police video of a man's shooting death at the hands of officers.

Hundreds of people walked through the city's downtown streets on Saturday night, as they have for the past few nights. There have been marches each night since Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death Tuesday by police. One man was shot and later died in rioting that broke out on Wednesday night, but the nights since have been more peaceful.

A midnight to 6 a.m. curfew has been in effect since Thursday, and National Guardsmen have been stationed throughout downtown each night. Four people were arrested Saturday night on charges ranging from curfew violation to impeding traffic and possession of a homemade weapon.

Police are on high alert Sunday after due to the possibility of protests surrounding an afternoon football game in downtown between the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings.

---

8:45 a.m.

Police are taking special security precautions in anticipation of protests around a football game in downtown Charlotte.

The city has declared the Sunday afternoon game between the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings an extraordinary event. That allows them to ban backpacks and regular items that can be used as weapons, such as chains and box cutters.

It also allows police more latitude to stop and search people within an area for several blocks in all directions from Bank of America Stadium.

There have been protests every day since Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death by Charlotte police on Tuesday. In his request for the declaration, Police Chief Kerr Putney wrote that he has intelligence that more protests and ''acts of disruption'' are planned during the game.

---

8:25 p.m.

An attorney for the family of a man shot by Charlotte police says newly released footage from authorities doesn't show a gun in the man's hand.

Justin Bamberg told reporters on Saturday night that the dashcam and body camera footage released on Saturday leaves more questions unanswered than it provides clarity. He also said that Keith Lamont Scott's delay in getting out of his vehicle doesn't justify his death.

Protesters have been clamoring for the videos since the shooting of Scott by Charlotte police. Officers have said Scott had a gun, according to a police statement. Authorities on Saturday released photographs of a handgun and a holster they said was recovered from the scene.

Ray Dotch identified himself as Scott's brother-in-law. He objected to reporters' questions about Scott's background, saying he shouldn't have to ''humanize him in order for him to be treated fairly.''

''What we know and what you should know about him is that he was an American citizen who deserved better,'' he added.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League