Not even twenty-four hours after Alton Sterling’s death at the hands of law enforcement in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop near St. Paul, Minnesota.
LDF’s sincere condolences are with the families of Mr. Sterling and Mr. Castile and all of those impacted by the recent and horrific tragedies. LDF President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill has been on the ground in Minnesota in rapid response to Mr. Castile’s death. Read our statement on Alton Sterling. LDF will continue to gather information and closely monitor both shooting deaths as well as call for transparent investigations.
We cannot be numb to the relentless police-involved assaults and killings of people of color. Our goal is to promote unbiased and responsible policing policies and practices at all levels. More to come.
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.
