An emotional speech by a nine-year-old girl has become a powerful reminder of the impact of police violence on children of colour.

Zianna Oliphant's testimony at a city council meeting in Charlotte came after days of protest over the fatal police shooting of Keith Scott.

Dashcam and bodycam footage of the incident released by authorities has failed to support the claim that the 43-year-old father was armed at the time of his killing.

In another video, recorded on her mobile phone, Mr Scott's wife can be heard repeatedly telling officers that he had no weapon.

More than 50 people spoke of their anger at the shooting at Monday's council meeting, according to USA Today, with protesters calling for the resignations of the mayor and police chief. 

Among them was Ms Oliphant, who spoke to the crowd about growing up in the North Carolina city.

"I've never felt this way until now. I can’t stand how we're treated.

"It's a shame that our fathers and mothers are killed, and we can't even see them anymore.

"It's a shame that we have to go to their graveyard and bury them. We have tears and we shouldn't have tears. We need our fathers and mothers to be by our side."

Through tears, Ms Oliphant said African-Americans are treated differently than others.

"We shouldn’t have to feel like this. We shouldn't have to protest because you are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to have rights."