Celebrity News June 01, 2020
Beyoncé & JAY-Z Call for Justice in George Floyd’s Killing
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Amid nationwide protests over the weekend, Beyoncé took to Instagram to voice her anger over the killing of George Floyd.
Last week, video showed white police officer Derek Chauvin with his knee on Floyd's neck during an arrest. Floyd said he could not breathe and pleaded for help, but later died.
All four responding officers have since been fired, and Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington announced on Friday that Chauvin had been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Beyoncé said, “We need justice for George Floyd. We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We're broken and we're disgusted. We can not normalize this pain."
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"I'm not only speaking to people of color, if you're white, black, brown and anything in between, I'm sure you feel hopeless by the racism going on in America right now," Beyoncé shared. “No more senseless killings of human beings. No more seeing people of color as less than human. We can no longer look away. George is all of our family and humanity. He is our family because he is a fellow American.”
The mom of three pointed out, “There have been too many times that we've seen these violent killings and no consequences. Yes someone's been charged, but justice is far from being achieved."
Beyoncé ended her note by saying, “Please sign the petition and continue to pray for peace and compassion and healing for our country. Thank you so much."
Beyoncé's husband JAY-Z has also released a statement, urging Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to “do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd to fullest extent of the law."
JAY-Z noted, “This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors."
He went on, “After our very earnest conversation, thank you to Governor Walz for doing what's right and calling in Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over the George Floyd case. Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me — a dad and a black man in pain. YES, I am human, a father and a black man in pain and I am not the only one."
Walz opened up about the conversation, telling FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, “It was so incredibly human. It was a dad — and I think quite honestly a black man whose visceral pain of this that he knew. His words summarized that justice needs to be served here."
“He said he feels the compassion and the humanity of these folks who are speaking," Walz elaborated. "He knows the world is watching, and how Minnesota handles this is going to have an impact across the country. It's a positive sign that someone of a stature, that has a presence like that, is focused in the moment of what Minnesotas are focused on."
