Black Lives Matter Cancels Planned Rosedale Mall Protest
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The group Black Lives Matter is calling off a planned protest at the Rosedale Mall Sunday afternoon.
In a statement posted to the Black Lives Matter St. Paul Facebook page, the group says several stores in the mall have already closed in anticipation of the protest. Thus, the page says, their goal of creating an economic impact on the community was achieved, and there is no need to protest.
It's in response to the officer involved shooting death of Philando Castile 11 days ago. Authorities say St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights.
The goal of Sunday's planned demonstration was to put pressure on the city of Falcon Heights to terminate its contract with the St. Anthony Police Department. Black Lives Matter St. Paul put out the call to rally last week, posting "let's hit them where it hurt$ [sic] and let's shut it down."
Sunday's planned protest follows several days of demonstrations over the last week and a half. On Saturday, hundreds gathered in St. Paul for what would have been Philando Castile's 33rd birthday. In one neighborhood the annual Rondo Days celebration was renamed Philando Days. At the governor's residence, dozens joined the ongoing occupation for a balloon release.
Demonstrators at the Governor's Mansion promised to stay camped out for the foreseeable future.
"We can't get it right, so right now the fight is real. The fight is for black equal rights," demonstrator Jacob Ladda said. "We didn't want to have to sleep out here on sleeping bags ... for many nights, and many more nights to come, if I have to, until you can answer what your system is representing."
The Rosedale demonstration was planned for 1 p.m. Sunday. Black Lives matter organizers did not give an exact meeting location inside the mall before it was called off.
The mall has not released a statement on the planned protest.
