The Bahamas issued a travel warning to the United States on Friday, cautioning its citizens about police violence in the country.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration has taken a note of the recent tensions in some American cities over shootings of young black males by police officers,” the statement read. “We wish to advise all Bahamians traveling to the US but especially to the affected cities to exercise appropriate caution generally. In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate.”
The statement follows the tragic deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling at the hands of police earlier this week, as well as five officers in Dallas in a sniper attack on Thursday.
The statement also warned citizens Bahamian citizens to “not get involved in political or other demonstrations under any circumstances and [to] avoid crowds.”
Protests and demonstrations against police brutality took place across the United States after the deaths of Castile and Sterling. The shooting in Dallas, Texas on Thursday occurred during one such demonstration. The gunman, who officers said acted alone out of a desire “to kill white officers,” shot and killed five Dallas police officers. Seven other officers and two civilians were also injured during the demonstration.