Day of verdict: Justice4Philando emergency response set

St. Paul, MN – The world is watching Saint Paul, Minnesota this week, hoping that the family of Philando Castile will get justice for his death at the hands of Saint Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. In the Twin Cities, community organizations have come to together to hold a unified response, whatever the verdict. A march and rally will take place at the Minnesota State Capitol building, 7 p.m., on the day the verdict is announced.

“While we hope for a guilty verdict, we also know that justice has been denied to countless families in this same position. If Yanez is found guilty, the verdict will be celebrated as a victory for justice, that was won only because the world demanded it,” organizers said in a statement. It continued, “If the jury fails to return a guilty verdict, this case will serve as the latest proof that the so-called justice system refuses to deliver justice to victims of police terror.”

Just hours after the event was posted, hundreds had committed to attend. The #Justice4Philando Emergency Unity Response was initiated by Black Lives Matter Twin Cities Metro, Communities United Against Police Brutality, Justice Occupation for Philando, and Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar. Endorsers include Black Saint Paul, Blue LIES Matter, Cop Watch Minneapolis, MN Neighbors for Justice, Movement Support Network, Native Lives Matter, New North and Philando’s Peace Garden.