Just over one week after his tragic death, family, friends and mourners gathered to say their final goodbyes to Philando Castile.
Nearly 3,000 attendees were on hand to honor Philando’s memory and celebrate his life with a massive funeral service held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota on Thursday. The atmosphere inside the church was described as “somber” and “melancholic” as those closest to the 32-year-old school cafeteria supervisor continue to come to grips with his untimely passing.
Reverend Dr. Steve Daniels of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church was one of two ministers who shared remarks during the service. He spoke briefly about the unjust circumstances surrounding Philando’s death, including the recent revelation that racial profiling on the part of the police officer who ultimately took his life led to the fatal traffic stop. “We have the death of an innocent black man whose life was taken at the hands of an officer due to his wide-set nose,” Daniels said. “Racially profiled, pulled over for a broken taillight, shot multiple times next to his fiancée and her 4-year-old daughter. Thank God that they were not struck by some of those bullets.”
The investigation into Philando’s death is still ongoing as African-American communities and supporters from across the country continue to call for an end to police brutality.
WANT MORE FROM ESSENCE? Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.
