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Citing Castile shooting, Klobuchar calls for unity to move forward

The shooting death of Philando Castile by a policeman should be a catalyst for criminal justice and gun violence reforms, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor.

July 12, 2016 at 6:33PM

The shooting death of a Falcon Heights man by police should be a catalyst for criminal justice and gun violence reforms, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor. Philando Castile died after a police officer fired on him during what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop. Castile's fiancee streamed the last moments of his life and described what had happened in a cell phone video. Klobuchar, Sen. Al Franken, U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith all signed a letter to U.S. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch asking for a federal investigation of Castile's death.

Following several days of nationwide demonstrations, including a fatal sniper attack on white law enforcement officers in Dallas and violence toward police in a protest on I-94 in St. Paul, Klobuchar asked for unity and forward thinking among those who want to keep tragedies like Castile's from recurring.

Among her proposals were videotaped interrogations and police body cameras in combination with "meaningful improvement" in community/police relations. She also called for "common sense gun control."

"America is better than Philando Castile losing his life," Klobuchar said. "And America is better than throwing concrete chunks at police officers in St. Paul and five Dallas cops being taken from the beat forever. So I am here today to stand with the people who are not satisfied with how things are. The people who are ready to work to make things better. The people who are the helpers and the peacemakers. Together, we can help make this world more safe and more just."

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about the writer

about the writer

Jim Spencer

Washington Correspondent

Washington correspondent Jim Spencer examines the impact of federal politics and policy on Minnesota businesses, especially the medical technology, food distribution, farming, manufacturing, retail and health insurance industries.  

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