in the news

For examples of recent community support provided by PCRF,  visit Giving Back.
For coverage of awards received by PCRF, visit Honors and Art.
For information on the Philando Castile Peace Garden, visit the Philando Castile Peace Garden website.
For earlier news articles (2016-2020), visit the News Archive.

RECENT ARTICLES AND NEWS STORIES

• Pretextual traffic stops are unconstitutional and life-threatening. NJ lawmakers must act. "Across the country, Black drivers and their vehicles are searched about 1.5 to 2 times as often as white drivers once stopped, even though they were less likely to be carrying drugs, guns, or other illegal contraband compared to their white peers." USA Today Network (Oct. 18, 2023)
• 7 years ago Thursday, Philando Castile shot dead by officer. On Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation that July 6 and 7 would be Philando Castile Remembrance Days. WCCO CBS News Minnesota (July 6, 2023)
• Seaside kicks-off “Lights On!” program with help of Philando Castile’s mom: Philando Castile died in an officer-involved shooting after being pulled over for a broken tail light. Monterey Herald (May 20, 2023)
• Mother of Philando Castile speaks during Seaside (CA) ‘Lights On’ kickoff, says this could save lives. Ms. Castile is hoping that the launch of Lights On in Seaside will inspire the program to eventually go nationwide, and prevent what happened to her son from happening to someone else.  KION 46 News Channel (May 19, 2023)
• Minnesotans testify about racial injustice to international audience: The U.N. "This country prides itself on democracy, but it looks more like hypocrisy," Valerie Castile said. "We deserve to be taken seriously." Star Tribune (May 2, 2023)
• Black lawmakers call on Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to condemn biased traffic stops. "On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed by a Twin Cities, Minnesota, police officer during a traffic stop." Yahoo News (Apr. 13, 2023)
• Valerie Castile is 'over the moon' about free school meals in Minnesota — and wants to help single moms. The mother of Philando Castile has helped raise more than $200,000 to pay off the lunch debt for kids who couldn't afford it. Star Tribune (Mar. 25, 2023)
• Valerie Castile celebrates passage of Minnesota school meals for all. After spending years donating money to erase student lunch debt, Valerie Castile looks forward to a day when no student or family struggles to pay for school meals. KARE 11 (Mar. 17, 2023)
• Valerie Castile speaks out following video release of Tyre Nichols' death: "I didn't need to see the horror in that young man's face." More than six years since her son's death, Valerie Castile continues to emphasize the need for police accountability. KARE 11 (Jan. 31, 2023)
• Philando Castille's mother blasts Jeronimo Yanez for pursuing second career as teacher. CBS Minnesota (Nov. 29, 2022)
• Appeals court: Officer who killed Philando Castile was wrongly denied license to teach. KARE 11 (Nov. 28, 2022)
• New Brooklyn art space launches with exhibition celebrating birthdays of people of colour killed by police violence. The Art Newspaper (Sept. 1, 2022)
• 1-800 Happy Birthday: An Exhibition Honoring Black and Brown Lives Killed by Police. "Originally a voicemail project, now transformed into a large-scale art exhibition in a 10,000 square-foot warehouse, 1-800 Happy Birthday is presented by arts nonprofit WORTHLESSSTUDIOS with the aim of honoring the lives of those lost too soon. Twelve families, including the family of Philando Castile, are participating in the exhibition." Worthlessstudios, Brooklyn, NY (Sept. 23, 2022 - Jan. 16, 2023).
• Book excerpt: "The End of Bias:" The science and practice of overcoming unconscious bias. "Mind, body, history, institution: fused together to lethal effect. Castile was calmly reaching for his wallet. Yet Yanez was incoherent with terror. The threat was imaginary, but the fear was real. What do we do about that?" Minnesota Reformer (Aug. 22,2022)
• St. Paul Central honors Philando Castile. TwinCities.com Pioneer Press (Aug. 22, 2022)
• Honoring and Celebrating Philando, Seven Years On. "Philando Castile was killed six years ago, on Wednesday July 6, 2016. This coming Sunday — August 21, 2022, from 1 to 5 p.m. — we will come together to honor the life of Philando Castile at the seventh annual Central Honors Philando community celebration." streets.mn (Aug. 18, 2022)
• St. Charles Police to Hand Out Vouchers Instead of Tickets for Minor Vehicle Problems: The CEO of nonprofit MicroGrants said the death of Philando Castile prompted him to come up with ways to improve police and community relations. 5 On Your Side, KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (Aug. 8, 2022)
• Philando Castile Remembered Six Years After Being Killed By Police. Unicorn Riot (Aug. 1, 2022)

• Philando Castile, Remembering His Name Forever: Mom, Valerie Castile Honors Her Son. The Soultown Magazine (July 2022)
  

• Dozens gather to honor the life of Philando Castile 6 years after his death. KARE 11 (July 6, 2022)
  
• Philando Castile remembered. Star Tribune (July 6, 2022)
  
• Family, supporters of Philando Castile continue to protest his killing, officer's acquittal: The death of Philando Castile and the trial of Jeronimo Yanez. MPR News (July 6, 2022)
  
• Valerie Castile says youth gives her hope for future: Students who knew Philando Castile say his killing inspired them to pursue activism. MPR News, Northstar Journey (July 6, 2022)
  

• Juneteenth Commemoration 2022 Film:  Sunday, June 19, 9:00 a.m. See it on SPNN | Speak MPLS | KZMOHD.com.  This film features a historical introduction by Mayor Melvin Carter, III, recent 2022 Guggenheim Fellow Ta-coumba Aiken, honoring George Floyd and distinguished artist and advocate Seitu Jones, honoring Philando Castile.
  

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• The Gun Violence Memorial Project  seeks to create a permanent national memorial that honors the lives and narratives of victims of gun violence. (May 2022)
  

Valerie with her remembrance of Philando: “These items represent things that Philando liked to do: a basketball card, a domino, and the king chess piece. Phil enjoyed games that challenged the mind by staying focused, concentrating, and using strategic moves.”

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• Woman who ran charity in Philando Castile's name to repay $120K that didn't go for intended purpose. Star Tribune (Mar. 29, 2022)
  
• The making of The Cartography Project, a work honoring victims of racial violence. “The names of some of the Black men and women killed by police -- Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Philando Castile -- have become embedded in the nation's consciousness, memorialized in everything from street art to T-shirts to fine art displayed in galleries. Now there's a new effort to grieve their loss and honor their memory in music, a collaboration between the Kennedy Center, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. It's called The Cartography Project, and the three institutions have commissioned a multi-year series of chamber and vocal works and an online video series documenting their creation.” MPR News, All Things Considered (March 6, 2022)
• Families of Black men killed by police in Minnesota demand justice for Amir Locke. "Our children's lives mattered. Don't think for one second that I didn't love my son. … You love your children, and so did we," said Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile, who was shot and killed by a St. Anthony police officer during a 2016 traffic stop. Star Tribune (Feb. 9, 2022)
• The MN Legislature Special Session Omnibus Funding Bill granted a continuation of $6 million per year for peace officer training assistance through 2025, to be named the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund. Funding goes to the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (POST). For a summary of the 2021 Legislative Session, see the MN Association of Counties.

• Public Art Saint Paul welcomed Paul Farber, Director and Co-Founder of Monument Lab, to share their wealth of knowledge of monument creation, including the Philando Castile Peace Garden. For more details and a video of the event, click here. (Nov. 10, 2021)
  

Paul Farber joined Valerie Castile and other key activists in touring the Philando Castile Peace Garden in Falcon Heights, MN.

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• ‘Not Going to Do This Anymore’: Fed-Up Prosecutor Is Done With BS Traffic Stops: John Choi, the Minnesota prosecutor who charged the cop who killed Philando Castile, is already earning enemies for his groundbreaking new policy. Daily Beast (Sept. 8, 2021)
  
• Ramsey County attorney says he won't prosecute most felonies arising from low-level traffic stops. Star Tribune (Sept. 8, 2021)
• Ramsey County Attorney John Choi: "We have to make some changes." Star Tribune video (Sept. 8, 2021)
• A change of law, a change of heart, on the anniversary of Philando Castile's killing. "For years, Valerie Castile has worked to keep his memory a blessing. The family established the Philando Castile Relief Foundation, to help victims of gun and police violence, and to look out for the kids in the lunch line and beyond." ​Star Tribune (Jul. 10, 2021)
• Five years after his death, Philando Castile's mother criticizes lack of progress in police accountability. MPR News (Jul. 6. 2021)
• Family and activists remember Philando Castile five years after his death. Star Tribune (Jul. 6, 2021)
• 'Guerrilla gardens' take root across Twin Cities: "On the fifth anniversary (of Philando Castile's death) July 6, the Philando Castile Peace Garden committee will break ground on the garden with an expected completion date of Aug. 26, the opening of the State Fair." Star Tribune (Jul. 3, 2021)

• Falcon Heights to unveil Philando Castile street signs Wednesday Twin Cities Pioneer Press (Jun. 4, 2021)​

At the unveiling (l-r): Randy Gustafson, Falcon Heights Mayor; Melanie March Leehy, Falcon Heights City Council Member; Bishop Harding Smith, Spiritual Church of God, Brooklyn Center; and Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile.

Valerie (center) mother and Allysza Castile (left) sister of Philando Castile at a candlelight vigil in his honor. (Chris Juhn/MSR News)

• Valerie Castile: unbending, unbowed, MSR Minnesota Spokesman- Recorder (Apr. 24, 2021)

• Valerie Castile on Chauvin verdict: 'A victory for one is a victory for all.' Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile, recalls meeting George Floyd after her son's death, “He gave me a hug, a really big strong hug...You can feel people’s spirits when you meet them. You can just feel the energy that they have, and he had just a wonderful spirit." KARE 11 (Apr. 21, 2021)
• For mother of Philando Castile, Derek Chauvin's conviction brings joy and relief: Castile said her goal is to encourage young Black people to change the system from within. “I tell them, ‘In order to change the system, you have to be within the system,’ ” she said. ” ‘You have to be that police officer, be that mayor, be that congressman, be that representative. You can’t keep throwing stones. You have to beat this from the inside out.’ ”​Twin Cities Pioneer Press (Apr. 20, 2021)

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• Pilgrimage to Philando Castile Memorial Peace Garden (Apr. 4, 2021)

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• ​Families of those killed by police demand justice for George Floyd in former officer Derek Chauvin's trial, Star Tribune (Mar. 6, 2021)
• Community activists and families of loved ones killed at the hands of police demand justice: "We’re here to stand in unity as a visual statement to the state, says Valerie Castile. "We're not going to sit down, we're going to stand in unity." KARE 11 (Mar. 5, 2021)
• Duluthians show support for Philando Castile omnibus bill: 
  The bill, set to be heard in the Government Finance and Election Committee hearing on Thursday morning, seeks to improve socioeconomic and racial justice. Duluth News Tribune (Feb. 28, 2021)
• Philando Castile Memorial Avenue name approved for Larpenteur in Falcon Heights: Ground to be broken on Peace Garden this Spring, Twin Cities Pioneer Press (Feb. 25, 2021)
• My Son, Philando Castile, Was a Role Model. Here’s How I’m Keeping His Legacy Alive: “He wanted to ensure every child got a chance to eat.” bon appétit (Feb. 12, 2021)

• The Philando Castile Bill (HF 784 and SF 800)​ was introduced to the Minnesota House on Feb. 4, 2021. It provides funding for ending systemic racism and provisions that address racial injustice. If the bill were enacted, it would create five Philando Castile Family Centers in Minnesota. For more detail, click on the graphic to the right.​

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• City of Falcon Heights considers honorary road name change for Philando Castile, KARE 11 (Jan. 13, 2021)

INTERVIEWS

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"Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers?"   Book launch at Black Garnet Books, Apr. 7, 2023. Author Junauda Petrus in conversation with activist Valerie Castile.

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Valerie Castile and Jackie Carter on Black Press USA (September 11, 2020): ​Mother of Philando Castile and Law Enforcement Expert Jackie Carter on the issue of police shootings during traffic stops and how individuals can prevent them from happening. Posted via Facebook.
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Vice News Tonight 
(Jun. 4, 2020): George Floyd's killing has reignited calls for justice nationwide. VICE News speaks with Valerie Castile, who also lost her son, Philando Castile, to police violence in 2016. ​

ChangeMakers: Valerie and Allysza Castile, carrying on Philando's spirit
MPR News (Feb. 27, 2019)

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‘We Have Had Enough’: Toolkit Seeks To Reduce, Prevent Police Shooting Deaths, CBS Minnesota, WCCO 4 (Feb. 28, 2019)
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