Yesterday [Thursday, July 14] Philando Castile was laid to rest in St. Paul, Minnesota, with nearly 3000 people in attendance. Castile was shot by a police officer on July 6 during a traffic stop and his girlfriend recorded the entire incident on a Facebook live stream video.
In attendance was Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, as well as dozens of Castile’s relatives. As his casket was carried out of the church, his pallbearers raised their fists as a sign of Black unity and pride. Rev. Steve Daniels, who gave the eulogy, emphasized the need for unity. He said, “if we don’t come together, we cannot survive.”
Castile’s death came on the heels of another police shooting, that of Alton Sterling down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sterling was shot after selling CDs outside a convince store. Both of these deaths caused peaceful protests throughout the country, which sadly ended in the terrible tragedy in Dallas, with five police officers being shot.
Castile’s death, as well as the countless other Black and brown lives that have been ended by the hands of the police, brought America’s racist history and racial tensions to the forefront of the American conscience once again. President Obama held a town hall style forum last night to discuss some of the deeply rooted issues that the U.S. faces when it comes to race.
The investigation into Castile’s death is still on going, with the Federal Government declaring it will provide any assistance the local authorities may need. We will provide updates on the case as they are made available.
Respect: NYTimes
