Congresswoman Waters' Statement on the Deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile

Statement

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, released the following statement today in response to the police shootings resulting in the deaths of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, LA and Philando Castile in St. Paul, MN:

Twice in as many days, we have witnessed the murder of two additional black men as the result of what appears to be abusive, aggressive unnecessary violence at the hands of the police. Alton Sterling was shot three times while pinned on the ground with his hands behind his head. Philando Castile was shot several times after reaching for his wallet in an effort to comply with an officer's direct orders. While additional details of both tragedies are still coming to light, one thing remains certain, neither man deserved to die. There is no conceivable explanation for these murders or the exhaustive list of similar killings of black men and women who have died at the hands of police, past and present.

These stories grow even more tragic when we learn of the origins of the police involvement. Black men and women are getting murdered at the hands of law enforcement for selling cigarettes, having a toy gun, failing to signal, listening to loud music, and now selling CDs outside a convenience store or having a broken tail light.

These horrific attacks and their viral images dismantle the African American community's ability to feel safe in this country. They fill our bodies with pain. The aftermath of each tragedy is emotionally draining as we mourn the loss of a life violently taken by those who we have empowered to protect us. Today, I pray for his family and the rest of the country as we mourn the inconceivable loss of another Black life.

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