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The Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump are shifting their focus to a white teenager who was killed by police in Arkansas, after advocacy efforts that largely focused on Black individuals who have died during police encounters.

Sharpton and Crump were two of the mostprominent figuresfollowing themurder of George Floyd, a Black man who died in May 2020 after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Crump, who represented Floyds family after the incident,has also represented the families of Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown, both of whom were fatally shot by police.

Sharpton and Crump are now drawing attention tothe death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop on June 23.

An officer wasrelieved of his dutiesearlier this monthafter failing to turn on his body camera during his alleged involvement in Brittains death.

Crump told The Washington Post in an interview that Brittains death will help muster greater interracial support amid a push to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in Congress because his blood is now on this legislation, just as Floyds and Breonna Taylors blood is.

The lawyer said the picture of an unarmed white teenager being fatally shot by police will start to change the narrative and perception of the problem of police violence as the country sees that children of all races and ethnicities can be victims.

It is closer to home now, for people who probably could not comprehend when it was happening to Black teenagers, he told the Post.

Crump, who has been called Black Americas attorney general by Sharpton, emphasized that his mission has always been to make sure that all our children can get home safely and not be killed by the police who are supposed to protect and defend them."

We have always said its about trying to make sure that all our children can get home safely and not be killed by the people who are supposed to protect and defend them Crump told the newspaper.

Before Brittains memorial service last week, Sharpton told reporters:Hunter did nothing wrong, just like we felt George Floyd did nothing wrong. But if we segregate how we react, then were wrong.

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Sharpton, Crump shifting focus to white teen killed by police in Arkansas | TheHill - The Hill