Police union heads decry teacher protest for Castile

Leaders of the Minneapolis and St. Paul police unions say Twin Cities teachers unions showed "blatant disrespect for law enforcement" by protesting the killing of Philando Castile in downtown Minneapolis during Tuesday rush hour.

Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll and his St. Paul counterpart Dave Titus said in a statement Wednesday that quick judgement breeds distrust of police and has led to violence against law enforcement, alluding to deaths of officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas.

"This flagrant disregard for due process has sown the seeds of discontent which has resulted in the executions of numerous officers and caused injuries to dozens more including here in the Twin Cities in just the past few weeks," their statement read.

The Minneapolis and St. Paul Federation of Teachers organized the Tuesday night protest, during which 21 people were arrested, cited and released.

Castile, who was killed two weeks ago during a traffic stop, worked in the cafeteria of a St. Paul public school. That made his death hit close to home for some teachers.

However, Titus said in an interview that educators are giving young people a one-sided and negative view of law enforcement that exacerbates fear and distrust.

"To claim that there are profiteers making money off of the killing and oppression of black people through the use of police and prisons is absurd, and very insulting," Titus said.

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