The officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop last July said the smell of “burnt marijuana” coming from the vehicle made him fear for his life. The weak justification comes from a newly released transcript of Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez’s interview with two special agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the state agency investigating the shooting.

“I thought I was gonna die,” said Yanez when recounting the shooting the following day. “If he has the, the guts and the audacity to smoke marijuana in front of the five year old girl and risk her lungs and risk her life by giving her secondhand smoke and the front seat passenger doing the same thing then what, what care does he give about me.”

In other words, Yanez interpreted the smell of marijuana to mean that Castile had no regard for human life–a quantum leap, if I’ve ever heard one.

In the transcript, Yanez repeatedly mentions smelling marijuana in the car and claims it was on his mind at the time of the shooting. He said that because of the odor, he didn’t know if Castile had the gun “for protection” from a drug dealer or people trying to rob him. Make no mistake, Yanez’s prejudicial jump from possible pot user to criminal evading drug dealers is racially motivated, and he likely wouldn’t have come to that conclusion had Castile been white.

But more than half of American adults have admitted to trying marijuana at least once, and 22 percent of adults say they currently use marijuana. Numerous studies have shown that marijuana actually decreases aggression for many individuals. The majority of states have some kind of marijuana legislation–whether that be medical or recreational–on the books, and a growing number of states are actively advancing toward legalizing the drug recreationally.

While it is illegal to smoke marijuana without a medical license in the state of Minnesota, the drug is in fact decriminalized. Possessing 42.5 grams or less is a misdemeanor offense, carrying a no prison time and a maximum fine of $200.

Autopsy results concluded that Castile had high levels of THC in his system at the time of the stop, but it’s unclear whether he was impaired or not at the time. Still Yanez’s attorneys attempted to convince the judge that Castille was culpable in his own death because he was “stoned.”

“The status of being stoned (in an acute and chronic sense) explains why Mr. Castille: 1) did not follow the repeated directions of Officer Yanez; 2) stared straight ahead and avoided eye-contact; 3) never mentioned that he had a carry permit, but instead said he had a gun; and 4) he did not show his hands,” the lawyers wrote in a motion to dismiss the charges against Yanez.

Ultimately, Yanez was acquitted last week by a Minnesota jury on all charges in the shooting death of Castile, but the shocking conclusion still left much of the nation in a collective state of disbelief. Based on Yanez’s testimony, it appears clear that both racial prejudices and stigmas surrounding marijuana use factored into the tragic shooting.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Officer Who Shot Philando Castile Says Smell of Marijuana Made Him Fear For His Life appeared first on Law Street.

In less than 48 hours, two black men were killed in high profile officer-involved shootings. Just after midnight on June 5 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, several videos captured Alton Sterling as he was shot multiple times by police who were restraining him on the ground–he was selling CDs outside of a grocery store and he was unarmed. Then in Falcon Heights, Minnesota late last night, Philando Castile was shot multiple times during a traffic stop–his girlfriend live-streamed the gruesome aftermath.

The deaths of these men are hardly unique–in fact police have killed at least 1,083 Americans since Ferguson, Missouri catapulted onto the national news. However, thanks to the video footage during and after the incidents, the American public knows their names.

So rather than explain to you again the importance of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, or discuss with you how institutionalized racism is ingrained in American police forces, or even show you the statistics on police shootings of unarmed black men,  I’ve chosen to fall back. Instead I’ve chosen to provide you with a collection of tweets from the public, politicians, athletes, and celebrities expressing outrage over the shootings.

Because as a young light-skinned black woman in today’s society, it doesn’t matter how educated, critical, or eloquent I am, I will always find myself being categorized by some people under the cliche label of “angry black female.” This label allows people to ignore me, dismiss my opinions, and justify their own ignorance.

But guess what, I am angry! Police senselessly killing black men, women, and children makes me angry.

Therefore, today I will rely on the following qualified individuals–who come from different races, genders, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds–to explain why deaths like these are not acceptable and can not continue to be scapegoated in America, because #BlackLivesMatter.

Politicians and Influencers:

America woke up to yet another tragedy of a life cut down too soon. Black Lives Matter. #PhilandoCastile -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016

The violence that killed Alton Sterling and Philando Castile has become an all too common occurrence for people of color and IT. MUST. STOP.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 7, 2016

The national pattern of lynching black men by ropes or guns must end. We deserve equal protection under the law. #RIP #PhilandoCastile

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) July 7, 2016

I’m not sure what to say anymore that I’ve not already said, that others haven’t already said. In these moments we must organize.

— deray mckesson (@deray) July 7, 2016

Celebrities:

Couldn’t even sleep last night… First, #AltonSterling and then this video of #PhilandoCastile being brutally killed. This. Must. Stop.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 7, 2016

This IS systemic. We MUST DO BETTER. My heart goes out to the families of #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile May they both Rest In Peace.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 7, 2016

If all lives matter… SHOW US!!! Prove it! Show us our bodies hold the same value. There is no excuse for the slaughter. None.

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) July 7, 2016

He had a right to sell CDs, and a right to due process, but he he was shot for being a black man. Don’t rationalize murder. #AltonSterling

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 6, 2016

1) In the interest of time, would ye noble patriots please provide a list of infractions punishable by spontaneous public execution? Thanks!

— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016

2) Upon receipt of this list, we’ll return to our quarters and study up, eager to enjoy freedoms of white mass murders. #LIFEHACK

— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016

3) You chumps will NEVER provide this list… We see through you.

— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016

We should not have to jump through hoops to prove black people shouldn’t be shot by police during routine traffic stops.

— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016

We have fucking video proof and some of you still are all “well, uh, he shouldn’t have moved his left leg so provocatively”.

— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016

Athletes:

This is what lynchings look like in 2016! Another murder in the streets because the color of a… https://t.co/hwdW53AeXg

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 6, 2016

Went to bed and it’s #AltonSterling. Woke up and it’s #PhilandoCastile. I just can’t put a word to how I feel…

— Skylar Diggins (@SkyDigg4) July 7, 2016

Seriously 24 hours later another black man shot and killed dead by another cop! They said the body cameras were steps in the right direction

— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) July 7, 2016

The Public:

#PhilandoCastile is shot over a broken tail light but the stanford rapist avoids prison time since it would “have a severe impact on him.”

— Lyla (@LylaRevilla) July 7, 2016

This woman reposted an emotional response to the Philando Castile from the perspective of a black female police officer:

Black female police officer speaks out about the Alton Sterling shooting. She spoke with so much passion!https://t.co/0p6XMvOs5b

— Bronwyn (@BronwynJanse) July 7, 2016

This man translated his feelings into song:

I write my own songs, but never actually do poetry, but I’m fed up !!
#blacKKKLottery #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/uuyAvWQhbN

— Isaiah Jaay (@simpingNpimping) July 7, 2016

One user even had a suggestion for his fellow black males–wear your personal documents taped to your body:

How we’re going to have to start waking around #PhilandoCastile pic.twitter.com/XuE5ocXbAN

— Kayla Baker ✍ (@kayla_bake) July 7, 2016

…

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Twitter Reacts to Philando Castile and Alton Sterling Shootings appeared first on Law Street.