Celebrity News June 03, 2020
‘Star Wars’ Actor John Boyega Gives Impassioned Speech at Black Lives Matter Protest
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John Boyega is continuing to use his voice to honor George Floyd and support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The “Star Wars” actor gave an impassioned speech at a peaceful protest in London, using a megaphone to tell the crowd, “Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless. And now is the time. I ain't waiting. I ain't waiting.”
He continued, “Every black person understands and realizes the first time you are reminded that you are black. You remember. Every black person in here remembers when another person reminded you that you were black.”
Boyega got emotional, insisting, “I need you guys to understand how painful this s--t is. I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that 'your race means nothing.' And that isn't the case anymore.”
He told the crowd, “We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd,” while honoring others who have been killed like Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Stephen Lawrence and Mark Duggan.
John added, “It is very, very important that we keep control of this movement, and we make this as peaceful as possible. They want us to mess up... Well, not today!”
In another touching moment, he said, “Black men... we need to take care of black women. They are our hearts; they are our future. We cannot demonize our own. We are the pillars of the family.”
He shared his vision for the future, saying, “Imagine this: a nation that is set up with individual families that are thriving, that are healthy, that communicate, that raise their children they love, have a better rate of becoming better human beings. That's what we need to create.”
Boyega continued, “We can all join together to make this a better world,” he told the crowd. “We can all join together to make this special.”
Protesters around the world have been marching following the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man.
He died last Monday shortly after being arrested for a nonviolent act in Minneapolis. Video of the arrest shows white police officer Derek Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck as Floyd says he can't breathe and pleads for help.
All four officers involved in Floyd's arrest were fired, and as of Wednesday, all have been charged in his death.
