Why? He was carrying a gun. A gun that he had a permit for. A gun that was legally obtained. A gun that was his right under the second amendment to carry. A gun that he disclosed to the officer he was carrying.
Still, when he went to comply with the officer's instructions to produce his license and registration, he was shot....to death.
Ironically, I just read this on facebook yesterday. Probably hours before Philando Castile would be killed in the same situation. Please click on the link and read it, I'll wait while you do. I've seen this post a couple of times over the past year when it was written. Usually it's followed by something along the lines of "See, if you treat the police with respect they will treat you with respect." Often times it's followed by something along the lines of "see, if Tamir Rice, Amadou Diallo had just followed instructions they wouldn't have died."
Well guess what? Philando Castile DID comply with the orders he was given. There has yet to be any indication that he was doing anything other than following directions in a respectful manner.
By all accounts Philando Castile was the kind of man that knew the names of every child that came through the school cafeteria in which he worked. The kind of man that would put an extra snack in the lunch bag of a child he thought might need a little encouragement, was having a bad day, or just having a rough time with things.
So why is this man dead? Because he was a black man carrying a gun. The fact that he was legally allowed to carry the gun and disclosed the fact that he was armed to the police officer made no difference. Even the governor of Minnesota has come out saying that he feels that if Philando Castile was white, he would still be alive. Yes, even the governor of Minnesota admits in a round about way that white privilege would have probably saved this man's life.
THIS IS NOT A LULLABY THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR SHOULD HAVE TO SING TO THEIR CHILDREN!!!!!
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