From the Editors: Excerpts of remarks by Valerie Castile on June 16 after St. Paul (MN) area police officer Jerónimo Yánez was freed in the killing of her son Philando Castile on July 6, 2016 are below. In grief and anger, she condemns the officer’s acquittal as not only a gross injustice against her son, but as a barbaric and immoral failure of justice in Minnesota.
[M]y son (Philando Castile) was murdered and I will continue to say murdered because where in this planet do you tell the truth and you be honest and you still be murdered by the police of Minnesota. … I am so very, very, very, very, very, very, very disappointed in the system here in the state of Minnesota. … There has always been a systemic problem in the state of Minnesota. … The system continues to fail Black people and they will continue to fail you all. … When they get done with us, they coming for you. Y’all are next! And you’ll be standing up here fighting for justice . . . My son loved this state. … My son loved this city and this city killed my son and the murderer gets away!
[…] We’re not evolving as a civilization, we’re devolving! We have taken steps forward. People have died for us to have these rights. And now we’re devolving! We’re going back down to 1969! Damn! What is it going to take? I’m mad as hell right now! Yes, I am.
My first-born one son died here in Minnesota. Under the circumstances, just because (Jeronimo Yanez) was a police officer that makes it OK. Oh, now they got free rein. He’s found innocent on all counts. He shot into a car with no regard to human life! And that’s OK. Thank you, Minnesota. Thank you, Minnesota.
