The Latest: Hundreds in South Carolina meeting on race issue

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Latest on a South Carolina meeting on racial issues a year after a former white police officer was charged in the shooting death of a black man fleeing a traffic stop. (all times local):

7 p.m.

Hundreds have gathered in North Charleston, many seeking to have area police reduce the number of so-called contact stops in which motorists are pulled over but not given citations.

A meeting sponsored by the Charleston Area Justice Ministry, comprised of nearly 30 church congregations in the Charleston area of South Carolina, was being held on Monday night. It comes a year after a white police officer in North Charleston was charged in the shooting death of a black man fleeing a traffic stop.

Figures show a disproportionate number of black people are subject to contact stops

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Eddie Driggers are not attending. A city spokesman says when they have met with the group previously, they were simply rebuked.

The mayor and police chief of nearby Charleston were to attend.

Many of those gathered also want the local school district to adopt policies to avoid students being arrested in front of classmates.

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6:30 a.m.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a rally in North Charleston being held a year after a former white police officer was charged in the shooting death of a black man fleeing a traffic stop.

The Charleston Area Justice Ministry called the rally for later Monday.

The group wants a reduction in the number of contact stops in which motorists are stopped but no citations written. Figures show a disproportionate number of black people are subject to such stops.

Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Eddie Driggers aren’t attending. A city spokesman says when they have met with the group previously, they were simply rebuked.

Michael Slager is charged with murder in the death of Walter Scott last April. Slager was fired after he was charged.