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Louisiana

Long divided: Baton Rouge race relations under new scrutiny

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A man speaks as a group of protesters gather against another group of protesters, while authorities watch in Baton Rouge, La., Sunday, July 10, 2016. Police officers responded to reports that protesters were en route to block Interstate 10 and prevent another group of protesters from marching. (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    Police officers detain a protester as they try to clear streets while protesters were gathering against another group of protesters in Baton Rouge, La., Sunday, July 10, 2016. Police officers responded to reports that protesters were en route to block Interstate 10 and prevent another group of protesters from marching. (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    Police march toward protesters in a residential neighborhood in Baton Rouge, La. on Sunday, July 10, 2016. After an organized protest in downtown Baton Rouge protesters wondered into residential neighborhoods and toward a major highway that caused the police to respond by arresting protesters that refused to disperse. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) (The Associated Press)

BATON ROUGE, La. – The shooting death of a black man at the hands of two white police officers is revealing long-simmering racial tensions in Louisiana's capital.

Jasiri Basel is a 37-year-old community activist. He says Baton Rouge is "horribly racist" and that there's a physical divide in the city.

Most of the city's black population lives in the north whereas the white population lives in the south part.

Some residents say the black population hasn't gotten the economic opportunities that the white part of the city has.

But others say that things aren't that bad.

State Rep. Ted James, a black attorney in Baton Rouge has been outspoken critic of the shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling, but he says the police department should be given credit overall for bridging relationships with the community.

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Associated Press reporters Kevin McGill and Rebecca Santana in New Orleans contributed to this report.