The horrific death of an African-American man named George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA has sent shock waves across the nation. The USA that was grappling under the ill-effects of Coronavirus pandemic is now facing unrest due to Floyd’s death that depicts police violence and cruelty. The news of the demise of Floyd hit social media on May 25, 2020, due to a video that went viral where a policeman can be seen kneeling on his neck for more than 5 minutes during an arrest while he lay handcuffed and crying out in pain about being unable to breathe. The horrific video recorded by bystanders sent shivers down everyone’s spine and people started demanding justice for Floyd with the trending hashtag #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd with massive street protests in the state of Minneapolis after Floyd was declared dead at a hospital.
Several Hollywood celebrities reacted to the violence committed against Floyd and demanded justice for him. LeBron James, Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, Viola Davis, John Boyega, Demi Lovato, Naomi Campbell and several others took to social media to react to Floyd's death. Check out their posts below:
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#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/cFazgClwNe
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2020
This is what it means to be Black in America. Tried. Convicted. Killed for being Black. We are dictated by hundreds of years of policies that have restricted our very existence and still have to continue to face modern day lynchings. Here's the thing......https://t.co/U0EfytNwdg pic.twitter.com/IimJn3RXlk
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) May 26, 2020
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
I don’t have the words. I’m sick and tired of this, tired of being sad about our people dying needlessly. Harassed and humiliated in these challenging times, I thought we could come to together, but it seems like this Coronavirus has bought out more racism in a major way. pic.twitter.com/vZpNHm9Zco
— Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) May 27, 2020
According to reports on international portals, Floyd’s death has sparked the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement once again. The explosive footage and subsequent death led to community outrage, an FBI civil rights investigation and the firing of the officer and three colleagues who were also at the scene.
On Wednesday, the Minneapolis Police Department identified the fired officers as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng. Floyd’s relatives have said that the officers should be charged with murder. Philonise Floyd, Floyd’s brother, told a news channel, “They treated him worse than they treat animals. They took a life — they deserve life.”
(Source: Instagram/Twitter/CNN)