Protesters across the US have taken to the streets in anger over the fatal police shooting of two black men in the space of two days. Philando Castile, 32, was shot by police near St. Paul, Minnesota on 6 June. His girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, posted live footage of the incident on the internet afterwards. Castile's death occurred within a day of the shooting of 37-year-old Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sterling was killed during a disagreement with two white police officers. Again, graphic footage of that incident caused an outcry on social media.
A demonstrator gestures during a protest against the police shootings that lead to two deaths in Louisiana and Minnesota in OaklandStephen Lam/ ReutersPeople take part in a protest over the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march along Manhattan's streets in New YorkEduardo Munoz/ Reuters
Citizens have demanded an end to police brutality in widespread protests across America. They have also called for a change in the law which would ban police from using guns on civilians.
In Dallas, what began as a peaceful protest, ended with five police officers dead and seven wounded. Dallas police chief David Brown said two snipers were involved in the attacks. It has been reported than one of the gunmen had been killed.
A protester is detained by a NYPD officer as people take part in a protest over the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march along Manhattan streets in New YorkEduardo Munoz/ ReutersPeople take part in a protest against the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march in New YorkEduardo Munoz/ Reuters
In response to this week's shootings, marches and demonstrations took place outside the White House in Washington DC, New York, Louisiana and Minnesota. People of all ages, nationalities and race held banners while shouting slogans after the tragic deaths of Castile and Sterling, and earlier victims, including Freddie Gray who was killed in 2015 and Michael Brown the year before.
"For everyone, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, the two African Americans that just got killed, everyone, you know? For black people, because black lives matter and this is ridiculous and everyone is just angry," protester Mariam Gaye told Reuters.
People take part in a protest over the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march along Manhattan streets in New YorkBrendan McDermid/ ReutersDiamond Reynolds, girlfriend of Philando Castile is embraced, as people gather to protest the fatal shooting by Minneapolis area police during a traffic stop in St. Paul, MinnesotaAdam Bettcher/ ReutersA group of protesters demonstrate near a prayer vigil in memory of Alton Sterling, who was shot dead by police in Baton Rouge, LouisianaJonathan Bachman/ Reuters
The use of force by police against African-Americans in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore and New York has sparked periodic and sometimes violent protests in the past two years, which have spawned the Black Lives Matter movement. Anger has intensified when the officers involved in such incidents have been acquitted in trials or not charged at all.
A woman chants out of the window of a bus as a group of protesters demonstrate near a prayer vigil in memory of Alton Sterling, who was shot dead by police in Baton Rouge, LouisianaJonathan Bachman/ ReutersActivists display placards bearing images of Alton Sterling and Sandra Bland as they protest on the corner of Florence Avenue and Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles against the police shootings that lead to two deaths in Louisiana and Minnesota Patrick T. Fallon/ ReutersPeople take part in a protest over the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march along Manhattan streets in New YorkEduardo Munoz/ ReutersMembers of the congregation pray during a vigil in memory of Alton Sterling, who was shot dead by police, in Baton Rouge, LouisianaJonathan Bachman/ ReutersActivists burn a U.S. flag while displaying placards bearing the images of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile as they protest on the corner of Florence Avenue and Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles against the police shootings that lead to two deaths in Louisiana and Minnesota Patrick T. Fallon/ ReutersA protester is detained by NYPD officers as people take part in a protest against the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march through Manhattan in New YorkDarren Ornitz/ ReutersPeople take part in a protest against the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march through Manhattan, with the Empire State Building seen in the background in New YorkDarren Ornitz/ ReutersA man displays newspaper front pages carrying news of the killing as people take part in a protest against the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile during a march in New YorkEduardo Munoz/ ReutersA protester scuffles with a member of the New York Police Department during a street protest against the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in Manhattan, New YorkBria Webb/ ReutersDemonstrators rally in the middle of Times Square after marching through the city and call for justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in New YorkTimothy A. Clary/ AFPResidents raise a placard during a street protest against the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in Manhattan, New YorkBria Webb/ ReutersDemonstators are arrested by NYPD officers after they march through the city and call for justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in the middle of Times Square in New YorkTimothy A. Clary/ AFPDemonstrators lock arms as they march from The White House to Capitol Hill in Washington, DCZach Gibson/ Getty ImagesActivists protest in Times Square, New York City in response to the recent fatal shootings of two black men by police Yana Paskova/ Getty ImagesDemonstrators hold hands as they march from The White House to Capitol Hill in Washington, DCZach Gibson/ Getty ImagesActivists march up Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side in New York City in response to the recent fatal shootings of two black men by police Yana Paskova/ Getty ImagesActivists march up Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side in New York City in response to the recent fatal shootings of two black men by police Yana Paskova/ Getty ImagesA chalk outline reading 'Am I Next?' written outside the Governor's Mansion during a demonstration for Philando Castile in St. Paul, MinnesotaStephen Maturen/ Getty ImagesDemonstrators rally in the middle of Times Square after they march through the city demanding justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in New YorkTimothy A. Clary/ AFPDemonstrators rally in the middle of Times Square after they march through the city demanding justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in New YorkTimothy A. Clary/ AFP
