Many celebrities have taken to social media to express their sadness and to call for change after Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were shot dead by cops in separate incidents in Louisiana and Minnesota this week, and Kanye West’s wife has now offered up an impassioned open letter on her website, telling fans she is “appalled and completely heartbroken” after watching the videos of the “two innocent black men, get senselessly murdered by police officers”.
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Protesters have focused on the Minnesota governor’s mansion in St. Paul since shortly after the shooting. Swenson says the governor plans to meet with representatives of the NAACP on Sunday.
“The Department of Justice will continue to monitor the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation into the death of Philando Castile and stands ready to provide assistance to the bureau as needed”, David Jacobs, Justice Department spokesman, said.
Kelly said Yanez could see a weapon in the auto.
“They should be prosecuted, the both of them”, McMillon said of the two officers. “He is deeply saddened for the family and loved ones of Philando Castile”.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant numbers of arrests, though in Phoenix police in riot gear used pepper spray on protesters, some of whom threw rocks at officers, local media said.
The St. Anthony, Minnesota Police Department, which covers the community of Falcon Heights where the shooting took place, released a statement saying that the officer in question had been put on “standard” paid leave, but did not elaborate on the incident. Authorities say the suspect, who was killed, told police he was upset about recent police shootings.
Sgt. Mike Ernster says officers used a chemical irritant to stop the perpetrators. No serious injuries were reported.
“Wednesday night’s fatal police shooting of Philando Castile, 32, in Falcon Heights brought thousands of people on Thursday outside the governor’s residence, reacting to a live video Castile’s girlfriend Diamond Reynolds posted on the internet of the bloody scene after the shooting”. Dayton waded through the crowd as protesters chanted: “What do we want?”
Demonstrators initially gathered outside the residence early Thursday, hours after Philando Castile was killed during a traffic stop. About 50 marchers headed back to the governor’s residence overnight.
Under state carry laws, those who are pulled over in Arkansas are not obligated to tell law enforcement officers if they are carrying a weapon, unless they are a convicted felon.
Gov. Mark Dayton’s strong words about this week’s killing of Philando Castile threw him straight into a suddenly reignited debate about how police treat people of color.
A makeshift memorial of flowers, balloons, signs and chalk messages that included “RIP Philando” has sprung up near where Castile was shot. “This has to stop, right now”, she told the crowd.
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While investigators don’t know the gunman’s motives, it comes just a day after a sniper killed five police officers and injured others during a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas.
