Reported by Sara Nevis| Photo Editor| [email protected]
Written by Rose Vega| Co-editor-in-chief| [email protected]
The Sacramento Bee premiered its documentary on the life of Stephon Clark, “S.A.C.,” at the Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts Dec. 12.
The 32-minute documentary produced by Sacramento Bee journalist Alyssa Hodenfield explores the impact of Clark’s death among his family and community. The former 22-year-old City College student was killed March 18, 2018, by Sacramento police officers.
The first screening of the documentary began at 6:30 p.m. with Clark’s family and friends in attendance, including his mother Sequette Clark, who said she loved seeing the support from her community as well as from City College.
“Seeing Sac City come together I was so proud,” said Sequette. “He didn’t graduate from there but he went there—it could’ve been any Sac City student—to see the youth on fire, fighting for what’s wrong, I’m so proud.”
Clark said that while she feels the loss of her son every day, that seeing her other son Stevante Clark stand up against the wrong done to his brother has made her proud.
“To see the changes made in my boy—there is nothing better than that,” said Sequette.
Stevante said that his brother’s death “broke” him and matured him in a way so that he could be his brother’s “keeper.”
“I feel like I am forced to be a voice for the voiceless,” said Stevante. “I’m forced to be my brother’s voice. I didn’t choose this. I always tell people I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”
The documentary focused on Stephon’s legacy, which Stevante said was important to him.
“Me pushing for my brother’s legacy is bringing people together,” said Clark. “Like I always say, ‘Celebrating diversity and connecting communities is a part of my brother’s legacy.’ When he died [Stephon] and those protests happened, people of all different walks of all different politics—Democrats, Republicans, whatever—they all came because they knew what happened to my brother was wrong. So it means a lot to me to have so much support from my community.”
Stevante was part of the Q and A held after the screening with other panelists Jackie Rose and Dr. Tecoy Porter, moderated by Sacramento Bee reporter Sam Stanton.
Porter, pastor at Genesis Church and the president of the National Action Network for the Sacramento Chapter, has been supporting the Clark family since Stephon’s death.
“It heartens me to see the community come together and rally around the Clark family,” Porter said. “It brings strength to that and turns a tragedy into a triumph, if you will, where a community comes into city amongst the multiple generations and races and shows that there’s hope in our community.”
Watch the documentary on the Sacramento Bee’s website
