Source: Stephen Maturen / Getty
The murder of George Floyd has sparked outrage across the country after yet another Black man was murdered on camera by police.
On Monday (May 25), after the horrific video of an unarmed Geroge Floyd being murdered by four Minnesota police officers went viral, many Black notable figures and celebrities took to social media to speak out.
According to published reports, the now-viral video was captured as officers attempted to arrest Floyd on suspicion of forgery. Observers filmed the incident, showing an officer kneeling on the back of Floyd’s neck. The 46-year-old was face down on the pavement repeatedly screaming, “Please, I can’t breathe!” The officer ignored Floyd’s pleas and those of onlookers, until Floyd goes quiet, appearing to lose consciousness before being taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
LeBron James, Snoop Dogg, Meek Mill, Ariana Grande, Madonna, and Justin Bieber are among the celebrities joining the cry for justice on social media.
While celebrities were making their voices heard online, local protesters took to the streets in the area peacefully organizing to protest the senseless killing. But the protest didn’t stay peaceful for long after police arrived on the scene in riot gear greeting protesters with mace, tear gas, and rubber bullets a stark difference from how police handled the armed militia that took over the Michigan capitol building.
On Tuesday (May 26), hundreds of protesters took to the intersection where Floyd was killed to call for justice. Meeting outside the Cup Foods store on Chicago Avenue and East 38th Street where the brazen killing took place, the protestors marched towards the police department’s 3rd Precinct, where the fired officers are believed to have worked.
Multiple people were shown apparently being hit by rubber bullets fired by the police, including one woman who appeared to have been shot in the head or face by one of the non-lethal projectiles before police fired off tear gas at the crowd.
Despite the harsh treatment, protestors have vowed to continue to speak out until George Floyd’s killers are brought to justice.
Check out what social media had to say below.
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Photo: Getty
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They Killed another Brother.. On Video. https://t.co/RnuUqfU5o8
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 26, 2020
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#BlackLivesMatter: George Floyd. https://t.co/lDfE2L3aC1
— COMMON (@common) May 26, 2020
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#GeorgeFloyd No family should have to go through this pain of seeing their loved one beg for their life😔It not right no matter how you look at it😢 pic.twitter.com/cjmaOUxFQN
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) May 27, 2020
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You deserved your breath, your dignity, your life. Not to die in the street, murdered by a white cop’s knee on your neck. You deserve our tears, our prayers, our rage, our action. We must act - for you - and for all of those were no cameras are present. We must. #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/JeMNUtkXv6
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 27, 2020
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This just burns. Seems to be a never ending cycle. The murderers need to be charged severely. Even in the face of death this man was given zero empathy. #RIPGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/gyuaoC6vUh
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) May 27, 2020
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“Justice will not be served until those unaffected are as outraged as those who are”. Ben Franklin pic.twitter.com/xVbOjglqbS
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) May 26, 2020
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Unarmed Black and Brown folks getting tear gassed by the police for protesting the murder of a Black man by the police.
— Jerónimo Saldaña 🐜 (@JeronimoSaldana) May 27, 2020
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Heavily armed white people being allowed to take over a state capitol because they want haircuts.#Mericuh #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #Minneapolis #AmyCooper pic.twitter.com/mePDTduqnL