ACLU statements on Alton Sterling, Philando Castile

July 6, 2016

BATON ROUGE, La. — Details surrounding the shooting last night of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge continue to emerge. In reaction, ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman issued the following statement:

“Alton Sterling was shot to death while he was on the ground and two police officers were on top of him. Sadly, Mr. Sterling is the 122nd Black person to be killed by U.S. law enforcement this year.

“As we await a full accounting of the shooting, questions abound: Why did the officer shoot — multiple times — when Mr. Sterling was already being subdued? How did Mr. Sterling end up with gunshots in his chest and his back? What happened to cause both officers’ body cameras to fall off during the same incident?

“Whatever the answers to these specific questions may be, they will not explain or excuse the continued use of excessive force by law enforcement officers across the country, particularly against people of color. We stand in solidarity with Mr. Sterling’s family and look forward to answers from the Department of Justice’s investigation of the shooting.”

July 7, 2016

FALCON HEIGHTS, MINN — In reaction to the killing last night of Philando Castile, ACLU of Minnesota Executive Director Charles Samuelson issued the following statement:

"We are grateful to Diamond Reynolds for her courage in sharing the video of Philando Castile's brutal death, and our thoughts are with her, her family, and the rest of Mr. Castile's loved ones.

"Philando lost his life last night for no reason, shot to death in front of his girlfriend and her child. We mourn him today because the police failed to protect and serve him. If they had done their job, he would still be alive.

"Philando became the 123rd Black person to be killed by U.S. law enforcement this year. We know there is a better way to police, an approach that doesn't leave us with disproportionately high numbers of people of color injured and dead.

"The ACLU of Minnesota joins the NAACP, and others in their demand for an independent investigation of Philando's killing by a truly independent entity. We do not believe that the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is that independent entity because the recent history of the BCA suggests that it is incapable of conducting a thorough and objective investigation into this tragic event. "

The Gayly - 7/8/2016 @ 11:27 a.m. CDT