Out of the mouths of babes.
A young Charlotte, N.C., girl delivered a powerful message while speaking out on police brutality at a tense Charlotte City Council meeting, the first such meeting since the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on Sept. 20, CNN reports.
"It's a shame that our fathers and mothers are killed and we can't see them anymore," little Zianna Oliphant said, breaking into tears. "It's a shame that we have to go to their graveyard and bury them. And we have tears. We shouldn't have tears. We need our fathers and mothers to be by our side."
According to CNN, several Charlotte residents settled into City Hall for the meeting, heavily criticizing Mayor Jennifer Roberts and the police for their handling of Scott's case, who died after being shot by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer.
The shooting sparked fiery protests, with activists demanding an end to police brutality and for the release of dashboard and body-camera footage.
CNN notes that peaceful protesters showed up at the council meeting with signs supporting Scott and Black Lives Matter. According to the report, protesters refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and several called for the mayor and the police chief to step down.
However, most were there to voice their frustration over how black people are treated by law enforcement, echoing Zianna’s sentiments.
"I've been born and raised in Charlotte. And I never felt this way till now, and I can't stand how we're treated," the little girl said. "We are black people, and we shouldn't have to feel like this. We shouldn't have to protest because y'all are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to and have rights."
Read more at CNN.