WGNO

Thousands rally at Lee Circle following violent week of police shootings, Dallas sniper

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Thousands of people gathered at Lee Circle this evening to peacefully protest the police shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

The protesters gathered around the Robert E. Lee monument, where a “Black Lives Banner” was hung in front of the controversial statue that’s slated to be taken down.

Sterling was shot early Tuesday morning during an altercation with Baton Rouge Police.

Castile was shot and killed late Tuesday in Minnesota during a traffic stop. His child was in the backseat, and his girlfriend live-streamed his death.

Thursday night, 12 Dallas police officers and two civilians were shot by a sniper following a peaceful protest in downtown Dallas. Five officers died.