Protesters Arrested at Minn. Governor’s Mansion

(CN) — Sixty-nine people were arrested as police cleared demonstrators from the street in front of the Minnesota governor's mansion.

According to the St. Paul police department, demonstrators have been camping outside the governor's residence since July 7, the day after Philando Castile, a black man, was shot and killed by a suburban police officer during a traffic stop.

On Tuesday, the police arrested 46 people who refused to leave the protest; 23 more were arrested at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Police had cleared the street once before, on July 18, but protesters returned over the weekend.

On Tuesday, the protestors were again told they had to leave, and many began to gather their belongings and leave, police spokesman Steve Linders said.

The arrests began about noon Tuesday, after a protester allegedly pulled a "No Parking" sign from a curb.

In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, state NAACP President Nekima Levy-Pounds accused police of a "show of military force against unarmed peaceful protesters."

"I'm not telling the people to move. They deserve to be out here," Levy-Pounds said. "We don't need to be treated like animals and criminals when we're simply out here demanding justice for someone who didn't deserve to be killed."

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit