Statement on the Philando Castile Verdict
After a jury returned a “not guilty” verdict in the trial of a Minnesota police officer for the shooting death of Philando Castile, Real Justice PAC founder Becky Bond issued the following statement:“There are millions of Americans who now identify as part of the resistance in this country. They need to know Philando Castile’s name. They need to know his name because the impeachment of Donald Trump or even taking back the House will not make justice real for millions of African Americans, immigrants and poor people whose rights and very humanity are routinely denied despite what is written in law. This is why resistance can’t merely be about electing Democrats.”
“A resistance that is real must make fighting racism, radical income inequality and state violence a central part of the work of rebuilding a democracy that works for all of us. Those who identify as part of the resistance must take on that responsibility not just in our national political debate but at the local level. Acts of state violence by local law enforcement such as what happened to Philando Castile are targeted disproportionately against people of color and the poor, and far too rarely prosecuted even when the evidence of murder is clear cut.”
“We can begin to reduce the unjust killings of people like Philando Castile by changing power at the local level. Change will only happen when elected law enforcement leaders implement policies that end the wrongful killings of people of color. Americans must demand this of their local law enforcement leaders.”
The Real Justice PAC works to elect reform-minded county and municipal prosecutors who are committed to using the powers of their office to fight structural racism and defend our communities from abuse by state power. The organization was a key player in the multi-racial coalition that helped civil rights lawyer Larry Krasner win a landslide victory in the Philadelphia District Attorney primary in May 2017. Started by a seasoned team of political professionals including top alumni of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ historic bid for the presidency, the organization combines key technology and tactics developed on the Sanders campaign with research-driven field practices in city-level races.