ST. PAUL-- Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is asking residents to remain calm in the wake of a fatal shooting of a black motorist in suburban St. Paul and several officers being killed during a Dallas protest.

Dayton on Friday praised the peaceful demonstrators who have surrounded his St. Paul residence for several days as they protest the killing of Philando Castile. Castile's girlfriend live-streamed the shooting's gruesome aftermath on Facebook.

The Democratic governor also said he stands by his statements Thursday that police likely wouldn't have opened fire had Castile been white.

Dayton says that statement sparked a flood of reaction that reflects the "difference that exists in Minnesota and across the country" on the issue of police-community relations and race. He also said he had no new information about the case.

Dayton has emerged from his residence to talk with protesters several times this week. He says he wants to get input from people "on the front lines." He says change can't be a top-down approach and needs to come from the community level.

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