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Protests over Stephon Clark shooting impact Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks game

Thousands of fans were unable to enter the Sacramento Kings’ home arena Tuesday as protesters blocked the entrances to the Golden 1 Center. The protests led a short delay of the game against the Dallas Mavericks.

"You ain't seeing no game tonight. Join us or go home!" The Sacramento Bee reported some of the hundreds out to protest the death of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed black man who was killed in his grandmother's backyard earlier this month, of saying.

While the delay lasted about half of last Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, which spanned 19 minutes, thousands of fans were again stranded outside as entrances were shuttered.

At 7:44 p.m. local time for the game that was scheduled to start at 7 p.m., the Kings announced the doors would remain closed.

“We kindly ask all guests to travel home safely at this time,” the Kings said in a statement.

After the game, the Kings released the following statement:

"Tonight’s demonstrations beginning at City Hall migrated to Golden 1 Center preventing ticketed guests from safely entering the arena.

The safety of our guests is our number one priority. Due to law enforcement being unable to allow ticketed fans to safely enter the arena, the doors were closed to maintain guest and public safety.

"We continue to work with law enforcement and City leadership to ensure the safety and security of fans and the public on Thursday and at future events."

Harrison Barnes of the Mavericks is hopeful the protests stir debate that he believes is long overdue, not just in Sacramento but around the country.

“If they were doing this somewhere else in the city, would they still be garnering the same attention?” Barnes asked following the Mavericks’ 103-97 win over the Kings. “Would it be at the front of every opposing team that’s coming in here? Would it be national news that the Sacramento Kings are locking fans out of their stadium? Why are they locking fans out of the stadium? Oh, because this young man was killed. Then the dialogue keeps going that way.

“There’s never an easy way that’s easy for everyone who’s involved to accept it and be on board, but the point is to bring attention to something, to start a debate, and that’s what they’re doing.”

No official attendance was given, but the crowd was estimated at around 4,000.

“Hopefully (the protests) keep the discussion going in all sorts of communities, not only here,” Mavericks veteran Dirk Nowitzki said. “It’s just unfortunately that things like this continue to happen. Communities need all the help they can get.”

Hours earlier, protesters disrupted a meeting of the Sacramento City Council held to accommodate residents wanting to discuss the shooting death of an unarmed black man by police.

Clark, 22, was fatally shot by police March 18 after a foot pursuit. Officers said they initially thought he had a gun. He was holding a cellphone.

At the council meeting, Clark’s brother, Stevante Clark, jumped on the dais and demanded to speak, saying he didn’t think the council would make meaningful changes as a result of his brother’s death.

The council adjourned for roughly 15 minutes as a result of the disruption.

KXTV-TV, Sacramento, Calif., and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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