Black Lives Matter Protests Continue in Jacksonville and Across America

After a weekend of confrontation, sporadic violence and arrests during protests against the police shootings of black men, the mother of one of the victims has appealed for calm.

Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile, one of two Black men killed by police last week in separate shootings, released a statement urging “all people to remain peaceful in all demonstrations throughout our community and our nation,” the statement read.
“I ask you to at all times remain peaceful in your expressions of concern regarding his death at the hands of the police. I promise that we will not rest until justice prevails.”

The request came another night of protests.

Over 300 people were arrested over the weekend in New York and Chicago, and in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where two black men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, were shot to death by police. The killings have sparked several days of protests. In Jacksonville, three were arrested.

The same week Sterling and Castile were killed, a gunman killed five police officers at a Black Lives Matter rally in Dallas.

Their killer was an Afghanistan war veteran, 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson from Dallas.

Three other shootings, in Tennessee, Missouri and Georgia, have endangered police during rallies.

Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson, a public school administrator who is considered among the movement’s loudest voices, was among 125 people arrested Saturday night in Baton Rouge, where Alton Sterling was shot and killed last week. Another 124 protesters were arrested.

The killings have saddened and angered Americans of all racial backgrounds, and spurred thousands to march peacefully throughout the country and abroad. In London, hundreds of demonstrators took to the street in London Sunday to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement

1.

Two people embrace during a demonstration outside the Governor’s Mansion following the police shooting death of Philando Castile, July 7, in St. Paul, Minn.

In the span of four days, the United States has had to come to terms with the deaths of two black men at the hands of police – the first caught on mobile video and the aftermath of the second livestreamed on Facebook – as well as the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11.

2.A protester is detained by NYPD officers as people gather for the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march in New York City, July 7.

3.Pastor Johnny Young blesses Kaleigh Yates, a first cousin of Alton Sterling, outside the the convenience store where he was shot and killed, July 7, in Baton Rouge, La.

4.Hundreds of ‘Black Lives Matter’ protesters march in the streets of New York City, July 7. Across the U.S., thousands of people protested.

5.Protesters block traffic trying to leave a prayer vigil for Alton Sterling at Living Faith Christian Center in Baton Rouge, La., July 7.

6.Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, meets with people, including Diamond Reynolds and her daughter at the Governor’s Mansion as protesters gathered to decry the shooting death of Reynolds’ fiance, Philando Castile, by police in Falcon Heights. Reynolds inadvertently livestreamed Philando Castile’s death.

7.People rally in Dallas, Tx., on July 7 to protest the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. After what had been a peaceful protest, a sniper opened fire on 12 police officers, killing five.

8.Sandra Sterling, Alton Sterling’s aunt, visits his memorial at the Triple S Food Mart July 7, in Baton Rouge, La.

9.Protesters face off with Baton Rouge police in riot gear across the street from the police department, July 8, in Louisiana.

10.Demonstrators march through downtown Birmingham, Ala., July 8, to protest the shootings this week of two black men by police officers in Minnesota and Louisiana.Brynn Anderson / AP

11.Keara Lipscomb leans on Ayo Akinmoladun during the Black Lives Matter Memphis Chapter protest against violence by police July 8, in Tennessee.

12.Demonstrators march through downtown Birmingham, Ala., July 8.

13.Demonstrators march through downtown Atlanta, July 8. Atlanta Police Chief George Turner and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said earlier in the day that people have the right to protest this weekend, but urged them to cooperate with law enforcement.