Philando Castile's friends and family are hosting a fundraiser in his honor. Castile was a school cafeteria worker who was shot and killed by a police officer in July, and according to The Grio, the fundraiser "is set to benefit underprivileged students who are interested in a career in education or child development." Over 1000 people are expected to attend.

Castile worked with the cafeteria staff at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School to serve more than 400 kids on a daily basis. Now, with the St. Paul Central High School Foundation, more students will be helped in honor of his name.

"[Castile] worked at a school, didn’t have his education license, but he definitely affected children, so we’d like [the scholarship recipient] to work on what he was: helping students," said Adrian Perryman, a 2003 St. Paul Central High alumnus.

His co-workers had similar testimonies as well. "He smiled at everybody who came in the building," said Castile's co-worker, Joan Edman, in July. "I remember him saying, 'I just want everybody here to be happy.' He wanted the cafeteria to be a happy place. It was a huge goal, and not an easy one, and he did it."

It's been two months since Castile was allegedly killed by Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Activists are still demanding that charges be brought against Yanez. The shooting of black men and women by police officers has become a hot-button topic in the United States, with officers rarely, if ever, facing a trial or being convicted.

Rappers reacted strongly last month when all charges were dropped against police officers indicted in the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Md.

“U kill us. Use our mothers as f–king stage props for Dems & the next day announce all charges dropped in Freddie Gray’s murder. SMH, Evil,” Killer Mike wrote on Twitter following the announcement.

YG shared the sentiment, simply writing, “The police get away wit murder.”

 

Head over to the St. Paul Central High Foundation to get more information about the upcoming fundraiser on Sunday (Aug. 28).

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