Every now and then we look away from Pop Culture to the world at large, when local stories cannot be ignored. This is one of those cases.
Outrage grips the Minneapolis-St. Paul area today, following the shooting of Philando Castile in suburban Falcon Heights, around 9:00 PM last night. Castile was driving with his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her four-year old daughter when they were pulled over for a broken taillight. Castile informed the police officer he was carrying a concealed weapon, legally and with a permit. When Castile reached for his wallet, the officer fired five rounds, killing the African-American man nine days before his 33rd birthday, according to Ms. Reynolds.
The event found immediate national attention because Ms. Reynolds live-streamed the aftermath of the shooting on Facebook. The video Reynolds took on her phone contains Reynold’s narration of the events that led to the shooting, saying, “We got pulled over for a busted taillight in the back, and he killed my boyfriend.” Her video also shows Castile in a white t-shirt covered in blood as he gasps for air. Outside the window, the officer who shot Castile shouts to Ms. Reynolds to keep her hands in sight and explains why he shot the man.
That video went viral, and by 2:00 AM, protests were forming outside the home of Minnesota’s Governor, Mark Dayton.
Castile worked as a supervisor in the cafeteria of James J. Hill Montessori school. The school has said they will provide grief counselors for students. Castile was reportedly popular among students at the school. A statement released by the St. Paul Public Schools described Castile as “a team player who maintained great relationships with staff and students alike.” Parents of students at JJ Hill have organized a march for tonight, at 5:00 PM.
During a press conference held at the Governor’s home this morning, Dayton referred to Castile’s death as a “senseless tragedy” and committed to bringing all his authority as the Chief Executive of Minnesota to investigating Castile’s death. The Governor also said he had spoken with the White House, and recommended that the Department of Justice and Attorney General’s office investigate the shooting as soon as possible, bringing criminal or civil rights charges, “or both,” if necessary. “On behalf of all decent-minded Minnesotans, which is almost all of us,” Dayton said, “we are horrified by what took place last night.”
Dayton, speaking to Diamond Reynolds beside him, said, “You want justice, and you will have justice. Justice will be servied in Minnesota.” FBI Director James Comey told Congress on Thursday he expects that they will be involved in the investigation.
The protests outside the Governor’s house brought together Black Lives Matter activists, NAACP members, elected officials, and citizens. At 7:30 AM about 40 people were present. By 9:00 that number had more than doubled. President of the Minneapolis NAACP, Nekima Levy-Pounds, called for an end to policies that allow black men and women to be killed at point blank range. “Enough is enough,” Levy-Pounds said. She thanked the Governor for coming out to address the crowd that had gathered for hours outside his home, but later would criticize his administration’s failure to elicit real action after the death of Jamar Clark, a 24-year old man shot by Minneapolis Police last November.
Much of the anger today, before and after Dayton’s appearance, was directed at the Governor. St. Paul Black Lives Matter leader and candidate of Minnesota’s House of Representatives Rashad Turner said he didn’t take too seriously what this governor had to say on the matter. “This is the same governor that called us terrorists,” Turner said, referring to Dayton’s comments about last year’s protests at the MN State Fair.
Others asked for the Governor to show leadership in reforming a broken police system. Reverend Brian Herron, from Zion Baptist Church, told the gathered crowd that this tragedy comes at a particularly trying time. “It comes on the heels of Jamar Clark,” Herron said. “It comes on the heels of what happened in Louisiana. We are calling on Governor Dayton to use the office of Governor to create change in the culture of police.”
“We are looking to you, Governor,” Reverend Herron concluded. “We are looking to you.”
The harshest words for the Governor came from Pastor Danny Givens, from Above Every Name Ministries. Givens spoke of meeting with Philando Castile just last week, discussing the accomplishments of Black Lives Matter. Then he turned toward Dayton. “I can’t stand here and say that I appreciate anything that Governor Dayton said because this is the third time I’ve been to your house for my people being murdered.”
The anger Pastor Givens expressed brought the crowd to roars. “These are black people out here, protesting, because we are tired of our people being murdered in the streets.” That anger was echoed by Clarence Castile, uncle of the victim, who turned his attention to the yet unnamed police officer who shot his nephew. “God’s watching you,” he said, fighting back his tears. “My God saw what you did. And you will be judged. Either here on earth, or on your way to hell. But you gonna pay.”
Today, Diamond Reynolds told reporters that her family was returning from a trip to the barbershop, where Philando had just had his hair done for his birthday. That he died for his taillight, she said, “is unreal, and it is unacceptable. We need justice, and we definitely will not have peace, Governor.”
The Governor had intended to take questions from the crowd but had to return into his home to take a call from the White House.
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