Klobuchar paid tribute to Philando Castile and officers of the Dallas Police Department; She called for unity and also highlighted efforts to reform the criminal justice system and curb gun violence

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar took to the Senate floor to honor recent victims of violence, call for unity, and highlight efforts to reform the criminal justice system and curb gun violence. Klobuchar paid tribute to Philando Castile and officers of the Dallas Police Department. She also highlighted her efforts to pursue justice, reform the criminal justice system, and the need to pass commonsense legislation to reduce gun violence.

“America is better than Philando Castile losing his life and a two-year-old in Minneapolis losing his life in a drive-by shooting. And America is better than throwing concrete chunks at a police officer in St. Paul and five Dallas cops being taken from the beat forever,” Klobuchar said. “So I am here today to stand with the people who are not satisfied with how things are. The people who are ready to work to make things better. The people who are the helpers and the peacemakers. Together, we can help make this world more safe and more just.”

Last week, Klobuchar joined with Governor Mark Dayton, Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith, Senator Al Franken, and Representatives Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a full and thorough investigation into Philando Castile’s death. On Sunday, Klobuchar visited Baptist churches in St. Paul and Minneapolis to pay tribute to the victims and discuss solutions to the violence. She has long supported important criminal justice reforms, including police training, videotaped interrogations, reforms to the eyewitness process, body cameras, diversity in hiring, more law enforcement resources, and meaningful improvement to police/community relations.  

For a broadcast-quality video excerpt of Klobuchar’s remarks, click here.

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