'RoBo Cops' Converge Down On Golden 1 Center For Sacramento Kings/Indiana Pacers' Game
Kings Added A "Significant Police Presence" In Order To Combat Stephon Clark Protesters
Sacramento Police showed up in riot gear to prevent further shutdown attempts at Golden 1 Center. Sacramento, Calif. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. March. 29, 2018.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. — As Stephon Clark was laid to rest six miles away at St. Mary’s Cemetery in southeast Sacramento, the city’s police stepped up their presence at Golden 1 Center to prevent anyone for trying to shut down the facility again for the third time in a week. On David J. Stern way, the main entrance to G1C, police emerged dressed in black, tactical, combat riot gear, signaling an effort to face off with any protesters who want to cause a disturbance. The city of Sacramento has literally been under siege since Clark was shot at 20 times by two officers in the backyard of his grandmother’s house on March 18. Protesters were able to prevent fans from entering two NBA games at G1C on March 20 and March 27. After Kings' owner Vivek Ranadive met with members of Black Lives Matter Sacramento, social activist, and community leaders at the Sawyer Hotel a day before, an agreement was hammered out to curb the protest and have the Kings partner in programs to serve Black youth. An Educational fund will be set up by the Kings to support Clark’s two young songs.
"Myself, Vince (Carter), and Doug (Christie) were talking to Berry Accius after the first game the protests happened and offered our support and whatever we could do," said Kings player Garrett Temple. Then to see the Kings step us as an organization and start backing different organizations, local organizations. That means a great deal and it shows you that Vivek (Ranadive) after the game wasn't just talk. They really wan to step in and help the community with this problem," Temple stated. Black Lives Matter Sacramento Tanya Faison and Voice of Youth founder Berry Accius said there were no plans to stage a demonstration for the Kings-Pacers’ game. But there were no guarantees that another party would protest. Factually, Accius and Faison did not plan the second shutdown when the Kings played the Dallas Mavericks. That was a group that left the Sacramento City Council meeting where 2,000 people showed up. The meeting was abruptly halted, and some of the people left and showed up at G1C. In retrospect, Accius said he had already known the end was near for protesting in front of G1C and shutting down Interstate 5, as they did March 22. “We didn’t want to go back to Golden 1,” Accius told Publicity Agents. “We knew it would be unsustainable. Ticket holders had to get to G1C earlier than usual to navigate through the new entrance system that could also be in place when the Kings host the Golden State Warriors on March 31. The Kings’ brass also sat down with local law enforcement agencies to lay down a “significant police presence,” the organization said in a written statement. “We have updated our security plan with the Sacramento Police Department and they have committed to ensure safe entry for all ticketed guests.” There still were a lot of empty seats in G1C, but not as bad as the 2,400 for the Hawks game or the 4,000-plus for the Mavericks’ contest. Way after the Pacers’ game, the Kings came back with a figure of 11,360.
PUBLIC INFORMATION: | The Indiana Pacers squeaked by the Sacramento Kings 106-103 in what was primarily a good game under the circumstances at heavily guard Golden 1 Center. Victor Oladipo had 25 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists, and one blocked shot for Indiana (45-31). Bojan Bogdanovic added 25 points and made of his nine attempts at the free-throw line. Thaddeus Young contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot while Darren Collison had eight points, nine assists, and three steals. “The road is tough,” said Pacers head coach Nate McMillan. “These guys found another way to win on the road. Sacramento played good basketball tonight. Our guys stayed with it.” Bogdan Bogdanovic had 21 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for the Kings (45-31) and Buddy Hield came off the bench for 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Willie Cauley-Stein had 19 rebounds, seven rebounds and five assists for the Kings, who have lost five of their last six games.
By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist
Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents
T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.
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