| No Images? Click here   Police fatally shot 22-year-old Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man and father of two in Sacramento, California, on Sunday night after two officers mistook his cellphone for a weapon. Even after the city tried to make strides towards police reform, state violence and implicit bias won the fight. Local activist and pastor Les Simmons shared his and the rest of the city's frustrations in a moving essay on HuffPost Black Voices. Read an excerpt below:Stephon’s death is the latest in a string of police shootings in Sacramento. After police shot and killed Joseph Mann in July 2016 our community mobilized to say “no more” and demanded transparency and accountability. The city responded in November 2016 by adopting a use of force policy and by equipping officers with less-lethal weapons.The use of force policy instructs officers to de-escalate conflicts and continuously reassess if force is needed. It begins with this sentence: “It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department that officers value and preserve the sanctity of human life at all times.”Where were the less-lethal weapons that would have preserved Stephon’s life? The officers had the equipment, so why didn’t they use it? Why did the police shout “gun” when Stephon was only holding a cell phone? Why did officers gather in a small huddle in front of the house and mute the microphones on their body cameras after Stephon was killed? And what good is a use of force policy if it is not followed? In case you missed it
 What's trending Queen Latifah is mourning the loss of the “love of her life” after her mother, Rita Owens, died on Wednesday.“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my mother, Rita Owens passed away today,” Latifah said in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE magazine on Wednesday. “Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth. She was gentle, but strong, sweet, but sassy, worldly but pragmatic, a woman of great faith and certainly the love of my life.” Beyoncé and Blue Ivy are the new golden girls.The mother and daughter coordinated in bold, jaw-dropping looks at Tina Lawson’s second annual Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday. They were joined by Jay-Z, his mother Gloria Carter, and Bey’s stepfather Richard Lawson.The theme of the gala was “From Waco to Wakanda,” and the “Formation” singer and her daughter certainly channeled royalty. Beyoncé wore a sheer, custom Falguni Shane Peacock gown with Jean Paul Gaultier earrings, while Blue wowed in a custom dress by Annakiki and a custom wig by Divamp Couture, according to The Cut.
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