After the July 7 shooting of Philando Castile, I was at my church where we all prayed for an end to the violence. How apropos the Gospel was that day. It was the parable where Christ said the second great commandment was "Love your neighbor as yourself". Do you think some people in our community and state need to do that? I’ve had many sleepless nights in the last 2 weeks, thinking about the tragedies in Falcon Heights, Dallas and here in the heart of the Northside with the loss of a little child.
After watching the entire Castile video, it is hard for anyone not to be scared, especially our Black friends. There is no question that Blacks are treated differently than whites in many situations. While we don't know what happened before the shooting, we can see the way they reacted afterwards. Everyone I've talked to, including all my white and Black friends who were not outraged at the Jamar Clark shooting, are outraged over this situation.
When the Governor's office called me about this, I told them that everyone is outraged, and I don't want a period of inaction for six or more months while we wait for a report by the U S Department of Justice. We must all remain calm, but be innovative in thinking of ways we should act in the meantime.
And then there is the lawlessness in our community, in the case of the death of an innocent child. This cannot be tolerated, and anyone who knows facts and doesn't come forward so the perpetrator can be prosecuted is nearly as guilty as them.
I will do everything I can to help bring the criminals to justice. The community deserves to live in peace and I pledge to do everything I can at the state level to make that a reality for all of us.