Demonstrators shut down the main entrance to Minnesota’s State Fair Saturday to protest the recent shooting of Philando Castile.
Protesters, endorsed by a local Black Lives Matter chapter, marched from the site of Castile’s shooting to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, reports the Star Tribune. The group of approximately 75 protesters ended up shutting down the main entrance to the fairgrounds.
The group carried fake coffins and signs protesting the recent deaths of Castile and others who had died during altercations with the police.
Protesters blocked off a fairground gate with their fake coffins; no one was allowed to leave or enter as police spent 15 minutes trying to get the protesters to leave.
“I know this is inconvenient for you, but so is murder!” a protester shouted at the people watching them.
Protesters demanded that the officer who shot Castile get charged.
St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Castile during a traffic stop; Castile’s girlfriend filmed the aftermath of the shooting and live-streamed it onto Facebook.
“It’s not just that we want to be here,” Monique Cullars-Doty, the aunt of a man who was also shot by police, said. “We have to be.”
Police shot her nephew, Marcus Golden, after investigators said he came after them at a high-speed in his car. According to police interviews with his family, Golden suffered from depression.
Protesters staged a “die-in” as they walked to the fairgrounds; the group also laid in the middle of an intersection for one minute to recognize how many times police officers pulled over Castile.
The group said they wanted justice for all lives taken by police officers.
“That #AintFair. This wave of devastation erodes any chance for justice. No officer, in the history of the state of Minnesota, has ever been convicted of a work related homicide. That #AintFair. What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” the news release read.
After blocking the gate for half an hour, protesters finally left, leaving the coffins behind.
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