Saturday, people voiced their frustrations outside the Triple S Food Mart, where Alton Sterling was shot and killed Tuesday morning.
Local advocate and Stop the Killing Inc. Founder Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed called a press conference there.
They are asking for the resignation of Mayor Kip Holden because they said he has been absent during a time where the community needs him the most.
“We want Kip Holden out of office within 72 hours, else we won’t protest as peaceful as we have,” said Reed. “He must go. He has not been here. He does not serve this community. We want him out of office ASAP.”
Local 33 and Fox 44 caught up with the Mayor in the wake of the controversy surrounding him. Here is what he had to say:
“I have to make a conscious decision. When I am the head of government here, and there is a unit underneath that government that is now on trial for the shooting, it would not be right for me to be a hypocrite, and just say my condolences, knowing full well that their emotional wound is very wide open,” said Mayor Holden. “So I don’t want to infringe upon their turf right now. I want to give them their respect that they’re due. I’m here doing whatever there is I need to do. At the same time, I have to do two hats. The other hats are police officers. Now they are being confronted by people, who are threatening them as well, and so there for, it’s a delicate balance, but I have to do that.”