Curfew lifted in US city despite continued protests

A curfew imposed in the violence-hit US city of Charlotte was lifted by authorities though protests continued for the sixth day against the fatal police shooting of an African-American man.

In a tweet on Sunday evening, Mayor Jennifer Roberts and Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners Trevor Fuller announced the order, effective immediately, to lift the curfew, which was imposed on September 22 after two nights of violent riots ignited by the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African-American, by police on September 20, Xinhua news agency reported.

Authorities have said an African-American officer shot Scott, when he made a threatening move with a gun. But the family said that he was reading a book and did not carry a gun.

The shooting immediately ignited protests and quickly turned violent against racial discrimination and injustice by police against African-Americans.

The riots continued on the next day, when a state of emergency was declared in the city by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who ordered National Guard troops and Highway Patrol officers to assist local police in restoring order in the city.

Under public pressure, the Charlotte police on Saturday released two police videos of the shooting, in which Scott was not shown pointing a gun or threatening the officers.

More than a dozen police officers were wounded and 44 rioters have been arrested in the past few days.

--IANS

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