Protesters interrupt council meeting over police shooting
Published 9:35 am Thursday, September 8, 2016
FALCON HEIGHTS — Anger over the police shooting of a black man during a traffic stop flared up during a meeting of city leaders in the Twin Cities suburb where he was killed.
Dozens of protesters demanded to be heard as Falcon Heights City Council members considered a plan to create a task force to advise them on policing. The plan developed by the mayor follows the July 6 fatal shooting of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker. Castile’s last moments were streamed live on Facebook by his girlfriend. His death resulted in weeks of protests.
The Star Tribune reports that when tensions rose during Wednesday night’s meeting, council members, the mayor and city administrator left the meeting room and never returned.
After they were gone, residents attending the meeting listened to the protesters concerns.