NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Outrage has sparked across the country following the shooting death of Sonya Massey by a deputy.

About a week ago, body camera footage came out of Illinois showing the moment a deputy shot Massey in the face despite her showing no obvious signs of a threat. On Sunday, communities came together to demand justice. That included crowds of people marching in downtown Norfolk.

Activist Darrell Redmond told 10 On Your Side why it was so important to be there.

“Today is about bringing together peace and unity,” Redmond said. “Understand that we have to stand together at all times and never get comfortable.”

He compared the moment to when thousands of people marched for George Floyd in 2020.

“So what are we doing?” Redmond asked. “Are we allowing history to repeat itself? And what happened with George Floyd was — the situation that we as a community started standing together and then we got relaxed. And now we have Sonya’s situation.”

He said policing must change entirely to protect Black communities.

“So what we have to do is reeducate the departments on what community policing is and understand that you aren’t here to enforce and be punitive,” Redmond said. “You are here to serve and protect.”

He ended by saying they walk away from the rally with one promise in mind.

“We’re not going to have another George Floyd or Sonya Massey.”

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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(The Center Square) – A new study shows that 340B hospitals in Illinois and around the country are abusing a federal drug pricing program.

The 340B Drug Pricing Program was created in 1992 to help struggling, uninsured or otherwise vulnerable patients access more affordable medications. Under the program, drug manufacturers provide discounted medications to qualifying hospitals and clinics.

The group Alliance for Integrity and Reform 340B found that some hospitals are keeping the discounts for their own profit, and today’s 340B program has morphed into a massive profit generator for pharmacy chains, hospitals and middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers.

AIR340B spokesperson Nicole Longo said there needs to be changes to the program.

“We think that if the hospitals are buying medicine at a discount, then low-income patients should have access as well to that discount, and finally, there needs to be clearer rules about hospitals and how they qualify for the program,” said Longo.

AIR340B found that hospitals made 87% of purchases under 340B in 2022, but they are not required to report their 340B profits or how the revenue is used to lower costs for patients. They also found that Illinois 340B hospitals earn in excess of 2.5 times more in 340B profits than is spent on charity care, while 69% of Illinois 340B hospitals provide below-average levels of charity care.

The report shows that only 37% of Illinois hospitals reviewed are compliant with drug price transparency.

They also found that 340B hospitals in Illinois have 4,287 contracts with 340B pharmacies, 19% with out-of-state pharmacies.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

In May, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, announced a subcommittee hearing titled “Oversight of 340B Drug Pricing Program.”

“It’s important that we preserve patients’ access to important and live-saving drugs. We must explore how the 340B program is working to ensure it aligns with how the program was intended to function,” said Chairs Rodgers and Griffith.