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Celebrities Denounce George Floyd’s Murder and Join Protests to Demand for Justice

Celebrities Denounce George Floyd’s Murder and Join Protests to Demand for Justice

Jun 2, 2020   •   Kyzia Maramara

George Floyd, a 46-year-old man from Minneapolis, died after a police officer held him down with a knee on his neck for more than 8 minutes. The days that followed saw the outrage of Americans and protests were held across the country over the weekend. People of all races and ages took to the streets in protest.

With a movement as crucial as the #BlackLivesMatter, every attempt for awareness counts. Thankfully, celebrities have used their platforms and huge followings to express their support and demand for justice. Some have even been spotted joining peaceful protests.

 

Cole Sprouse

 

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A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica. So before the voracious horde of media sensationalism decides to somehow turn it about me, there’s a clear need to speak about the circumstances: Black Lives Matter. Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. the media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda. I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement. This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such. This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing. This is precisely the time to contemplate what it means to stand as an ally. I hope others in my position do as well. I noticed that there are cameras that roll within the police cruisers during the entirety of our detainment, hope it helps. I’ll speak no more on the subject, as I’m (1) not well versed enough to do so, (2) not the subject of the movement, and (3) uninterested in drawing attention away from the leaders of the #BLM movement. I will be, again, posting the link in my story to a comprehensive document for donations and support.

A post shared by Cole Sprouse (@colesprouse) on


Even though most celebrities participated in peaceful protests, some still got caught in the chaos of the messier ones. Cole Sprouse revealed that he was detained while attending a protest at Santa Monica. He detailed in his Instagram post that the rally was peaceful and the officers asked them to leave or risk being arrested. “When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us,” he wrote.

At the end of his message, he stressed that he did not want the news to be made into a narrative about him. “This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing,” he added.

 

Halsey and Yungblud

American artists Halsey and Yungblud participated in a Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles and revealed that the police even shot everyone with rubber bullets. Halsey took to social media to challenge her fans and everyone else to speak up because “if you’re staying silent you’re contributing to the problem.” She continues to attend rallies and has even brought medical supplies to help bandage up the wounded.

 

Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga

 

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#justiceforgeorgefloyd #blacklivesmatter

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Billie Eilish posted a long message on her plea for justice for George Floyd to her 63.6 million Instagram followers. “We have to address hundreds of years of oppression of black people,” she writes. She also freely addresses the issue of “All lives matter” saying “The slogan of #BlackLivesMatter does not mean other lives don’t. It’s calling attention to the fact that society clearly thinks black lives don’t f***** matter.”

Lady Gaga, who just released her new album Chromatica, has decided to postpone celebrations and listening parties for it. In a lengthy post on her Twitter, she wrote “Every day people in America are racist, that’s a fact.”

 

Taylor Swift

Taylor’s tweet calling out President Donald Trump swiftly became one of the most liked posts on Twitter. She openly slammed the President saying “We will vote you out in November” and tagging the account.

Forbes went as far to say that her opposition might actually help take the President down when American voting starts in November 2020. Of course, putting her opinions out there earned her the ire of many haters, but that can’t be helped. Anything a celebrity does is bound to get hate anyway.

 

Shawn Mendes, Camilla Cabello, and Ariana Grande

Support comes in various ways and artists Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello have shown theirs through using their social media platforms. Aside from encouraging people to sign petitions and donate to movement-related charities, the couple was also spotted attending a protest in Miami, Florida, even bringing protest signs of their own.

Ariana Grande was also spotted in Los Angeles participating at a peaceful protest.

Tinashe and J. Cole were seen protesting as well:

 

Gigi Hadid

 

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Enraged. Sickened. Heartbroken. But never surprised. This happens way too often – and the videos that go viral are not isolated events. It seems that only when caught on camera are bigots & MURDERERS even getting “investigated” or fired .. unfortunately, the only way things will start changing is if all these racist, ignorant, monsters (badge &/or not) have to face the consequences- behind bars. && it’s not only an issue with black men being killed by cops … it’s an issue every time we see them being treated, in even non-violent situations, VERY CLEARLY differently than many very-high-risk incidents involving white men; it’s an issue that the President is making dangerous public statements about enforcing the shooting of protesters -rightfully angered by another UNNEEDED KILLING of another black person & DEMANDING JUSTICE WHERE IT IS 100% NEEDED- while exactly 28 days earlier, he tweeted about white protesters, who stood ARMED WITH GUNS protesting a WORLDWIDE HEALTH PANDEMIC as “very good people” urging the Governor to “See them, talk to them, make a deal.” ?????????? This is, too, an issue about the “Karen’s” we see filmed weekly- using someone’s race, as a point to try and push their agenda, while calling the police in situations where their lives are clearly not actually in danger at all….. they’re just plain f***ing racist. EVERY. TIME. feels more disheartening and nauseating because our cries for the Government and Americans to do better seem unheard; but even when we feel like what we do isn’t enough or can’t help, we have to do more. Keep signing petitions, making calls to demand justice, speaking out (this is not just if you have a big platform- it starts in your homes and communities), and fighting to make a difference for every life that has been wrongly taken or effected by THE PANDEMIC OF RACISM. THIS IS ABOUT BEING AGAINST EVERY SENSELESS ACT OF DISCRIMINATION THAT BURDENS THIS COUNTRY.

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on

Gigi’s Instagram post of a Will Smith quote is powerful enough to induce goosebumps. No matter how many people comment on her post for her to “Stick to modeling,” Gigi won’t back down. “The pandemic of racism. This is about being against every senseless act of discrimination that burdens this country,” she writes.

Harry Styles, for his part, and despite not being able to join a protest, posted on Twitter:

 

Beyonce and Rihanna

Artists Beyonce and Rihanna took to Instagram to express their dismay. Beyonce uploaded a video of herself condemning George Floyd’s murder. She has also linked petitions in her bio.

Rihanna posted a photo of George Floyd expressing her anger over the video of his murder. She has also called for the arrest of Derek Chauvin saying “If intentional MURDER is the fit consequence for “drugs” or “resisting arrest”….then what’s the fit consequence for MURDER???!”

 

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For the last few days, the magnitude of devastation, anger, sadness I’ve felt has been overwhelming to say the least! Watching my people get murdered and lynched day after day pushed me to a heavy place in my heart! To the point of staying away from socials, just to avoid hearing the blood curdling agony in George Floyd’s voice again, begging over and over for his life!!! The look of enticement, the pure joy and climax on the face of this bigot, murderer, thug, pig, bum, Derek Chauvin, haunts me!! I can’t shake this! I can’t get over an ambulance pulling up to an arrest, a paramedic checking a pulse without removing the very thing that’s hindering it! Is this that fucking normal??? If intentional MURDER is the fit consequence for “drugs” or “resisting arrest”….then what’s the fit consequence for MURDER???! #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor

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Jamie Foxx

 

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We cannot be silent anymore… I’ve been going to rally’s since Rodney King… when Treyvon Martin Happened I got a chance to forge a relationship with his mother @sybrinafulton … Who is now running for commissioner in Dade county Miami… we both have witnessed an acceleration of young black man being killed senselessly by police officers and random civilians trying to act like police officers… Being in Minnesota for George Floyd Felt like the straw on the camels back… we have to change policy when it comes to police brutality… We will be heading up to San Francisco tomorrow to meet with the mayor @londonbreed to have a Push for real change!! We cannot let all of these black folk down…. #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by Jamie Foxx (@iamjamiefoxx) on

The protests across America are not only for George Floyd, it’s for every black man and woman murdered senseless, wrongly accused, and have been a victim of police brutality. Jamie Foxx posted the faces of some of the victims and what’s crazy is that’s just scratching the surface. Over the years hundreds, even thousands, of names are added to the list, and, as Jamie said, George Floyd’s cold-blooded murder “felt like the [last] straw on the camel’s back.”

 

#BlackLivesMatter and we’re glad these celebrities are taking a step to help spread awareness. Which other celebrities have we missed on this list?


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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.

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