Cell Phones are Changing Police Interactions, Experts Say

"Pain for our culture," said Les Simmons, assistant pastor at the South Sacramento Christian Center. Simmons said there was pain "from our faith community as well -- that our young African-American males and females are getting gunned down by those that are paid to protect and serve us.”

The cellphone camera has changed the rules of engagement between civilians and police.

"Things like this have been happening for years," said Danielle Williams, a community organizer from Sacramento Area Congregations Together. "There just wasn't a camera. Now, we have cellphones. Now, we have Facebook feeds-- where we can cover it."

Sacramento call to action issued after shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota

Sacramento call to action issued after shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota

Members of Sacramento’s faith community gathered Thursday evening outside the Sacramento County Jail to mourn the deaths of African American men in Louisiana and Minnesota at the hands of law enforcement officers.

The fatal shootings of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and Philando Castile in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights on Wednesday were reminiscent of deaths of African American men in Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore and other cities across the country, said members of Sacramento Area Congregations Together, which organized the local rally.


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Residents Gather, Demand Transparency from Sacramento County Sheriff's Department

Residents Gather, Demand Transparency from Sacramento County Sheriff's Department

SACRAMENTO -- April 19, 2016, is a day Adonne Shelby wishes she could forget.

"I didn’t get any information, I didn’t get any answers, me and my family didn’t get any closure," said Shelby.

Her son, Tayon Shelby, suffered a gunshot wound to the head while sitting in his car with friends. His friends fled the scene and Shelby died from his injuries.

Tayon Shelby’s death was ruled an accidental suicide, but Adonne Shelby says the sheriff's department didn't do a thorough investigation. She believes her son's death was not an accidental suicide.

On Thursday night, Adonne Shelby was one of many gathered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Sacramento, demanding answers.

"It's easier just to sweep it under the carpet, that's the easy fix," said Adonne Shelby. "Let's just call it a suicide so we can go on about our day, just not caring."

Pastor Levon Davis helped lead the rally, demanding transparency and accountability from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

"This community has power," said Davis.

The rally was bilingual, a crowd addressed in both English and Spanish languages, reflecting the diversity.

The event was hosted by ACT: Sacramento Area Congregations Together. The group is a multiracial, multi-faith organization. Spokeswoman Annie Fox says she was pleased with the turn out.

In Northern California a "Walk with Friends" Leads to Healthier Living

What makes local residents meet up to take a walk together in several Sacramento parks each week? To hear them tell it, it’s the fun that comes from a shared activity with neighbors, and, for as long as supplies hold out, free fruit and vegetables at the end of the trek.

The program, Walk With Friends, is an initiative of the Health Education Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access, education, advocacy and training to empower individuals towards a healthy life. Funding for Walk With Friends comes from a Kaiser Permanente program calledHEAL Zones that began over a decade ago.

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