A couple hundred protesters have targeted the Minnesota city where a police officer worked after a jury acquitted him in the fatal shooting of a black motorist past year. It was the first time in Minnesota history that an officer was charged in an on-duty fatal shooting. Demonstrators hold signs as they as they block traffic on Interstate 94 in St. Paul, Minn., after leaving a vigil at the state Capitol on Friday, June 16, 2017. On Saturday, people marched in downtown Minneapolis.
An estimated 2,000 people were on the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota on June 17, shedding tears in peaceful protest of the Castile trial.
A gathering point for them became an occupation in front of the governor's mansion in St. Paul, which lasted for 20 days until police cleared it July 26, arresting more than 40 people in the process.
- A group gathered outside the St. Anthony Police Department shortly after noon Sunday for the third day of protests over the acquittal of Officer Jeronimo Yanez.
The protestors joined arms and blocked the parade, explaining that they wanted seven minutes of silence - one minute for each bullet that Yanez shot at Castile.
Son wanted in father's death
The son - who was supposed to enter a rehab program on Monday - fled the location and his father's corpse was found the next day. State police say Michael Marchalk may be driving his father's gold Ford Fusion with Pennsylvania license plate JWD1566.
Castile's mother, Valerie Castile, told reporters, "I'm mad as hell right now". In light of the officer's clearance, black gun owners are concerned about admitting they are licensed to carry to police officers, reports NBC Washington.
John Thompson protests against the acquittal of Officer Jeronimo Yanez, was found not guilty of manslaughter for shooting Philando Castile during a traffic stop.
But no video existed of exactly what happened inside the auto. On Friday, Yanez was acquitted of second degree manslaughter charges.
Yanez testified that Castile, a school cafeteria worker, was reaching for his gun despite his commands not to pull it out.
"We must all own the tragedy endured by Mr. Castile's family and community - until Americans demand greater accountability for the discrimination and violence of a drug war prosecuted in their name, it won't be the last". He says the jury sympathizes with Castile's family.
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