In Philly, Hillary Clinton Plans to Speak About Police Shootings

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. | Photo by Molly Riley/AP

Hillary Clinton’s speech in Philadelphia on Friday could be a big one.

In her keynote talk this evening at the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s conference, Clinton plans to address the recent police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. On Thursday, her campaign said she would “renew her calls to ensure justice is served” and “reemphasize the urgent need to reform our broken criminal justice system.”

The news of Clinton’s rally, and her planned comments, came before the apparent targeted killing of police officers in Dallas late Thursday night during a Black Lives Matter march. If she goes forward with her speech as scheduled, Clinton will undoubtedly address the shootings in Dallas during it as well.

Clinton issued a statement on the death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge early Tuesday morning. Sterling, who was selling CDs outside a convenience store, was shot during an encounter with two police officers. Video of the 37-year-old black man’s death sparked outrage and protests, including in Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

“The death of Alton Sterling is a tragedy, and my prayers are with his family, including his five children,” Clinton said previously. “From Staten Island to Baltimore, Ferguson to Baton Rouge, too many African-American families mourn the loss of a loved one from a police-involved incident. Something is profoundly wrong when so many Americans have reason to believe that our country doesn’t consider them as precious as others because of the color of their skin.”

On Wednesday night, Philando Castile was shot dead by police during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. His fiancée, Diamond Reynolds, broadcast the aftermath on Facebook Live. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said Castile would still be alive if he were white.

“America woke up to yet another tragedy of a life cut down too soon,” Clinton tweeted. “Black Lives Matter.”

Clinton speaks at 6:30 tonight. Vice President Joe Biden will also be in attendance, per Clinton’s campaign.

Follow @dhm on Twitter.