LA Demonstrators Call For End To Police, Prisons
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Demonstrators marched through a park in South LA Saturday, demanding justice for Philando Castile and calling for a list of sweeping changes.
Castile was fatally shot by police July 6 in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul.
Castile was killed one day after another black man, Alton Sterling, was gunned down by police in Louisana.
The shootings set off nationwide protest, and were followed by a mass shooting in Dallas that killed five police officers.
"There's going to be a war in a minute between the people and those police and it's going to be terrible," said Pam Jodan at Saturday's demonstration, which was was held at Ted Watkins Park in South LA
The Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers organized the event.
The demonstration was peaceful, but some who showed up said they're afraid of police.
"I'm reciting what I'm going to say when I'm pulled over," said Keyanna Celina. "I'm very nervous."
There were varying ideas among demonstrators about police and racial relations. Some called for socialism, while others say it's time to end policing and prisons.
"If policing were a solution to crime we would have zero crime because we're over-policed," said Alfredo Gama.
The crowd of about 75 demonstrators included relatively few black people, a fact that didn't go unnoticed.
"I thought it'd be a bigger turnout," said bystander Derek Johnson. "White people, they're here. I guess something is better than nothing."
