Following a jury decision to acquit police officer Jeronimo Yanez of manslaughter charges in last year's fatal shooting of motorist Philando Castile, thousands of demonstrators, including many people with children, took to the streets in Minnesota on friday to protest the verdict.
Yanez was charged with manslaughter in the death of Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker, during a July 6th traffic stop that turned deadly seconds after Castile alerted the officer that he was carrying a gun.
The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, 10 of whom were white and two of whom were black, sided with the officer after deliberating for more than 25 hours spanning five days, acquitting Yanez on all charges and causing public indignation...
Minnesota police said that 18 protestors had been arrested as demonstrations intensified.
Police violence against black citizens in the United States has unfortunately risen in recent years.
