Celebrities react to George Floyd’s death

On May 25, Minneapolis resident George Floyd died after he was detained by four police officers. The incident was caught on camera by bystanders and shows Floyd, a black man, face-down on the pavement while a white police officer pins him, his knee on Floyd’s neck. In the minutes-long video, Floyd is heard begging him to move, telling the officer that he can’t breathe. Witnesses ask the officer to stop but he insists that if Floyd is still talking, then he must be fine. At the video’s four-minute mark, Floyd goes silent.Now, the devastating footage of Floyd’s death has gone viral, and many people, including celebrities with a large platform, are speaking out about another death of a black person at the hands of white police as protests raged in Minneapolis while many took to the streets chanting Floyd's last words: "I can't breathe."Lupita Nyong’o posted about Floyd’s death following the firing of the four officers involved in the arrest, who were allegedly detaining Floyd after responding to "a forgery in progress." Floyd is only the most recent casualty in a long list of black Americans who’ve died during interactions with the authorities.

Enough. #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/o9kVHyOCIR

— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) May 27, 2020

Cardi B asked what it will take for this type of violence to stop in an Instagram post featuring an illustration of Floyd’s face.

 

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Enough is enough! What will it take ? A civil war ? A new president? Violent riots ? It’s tired ! I’m tired ! The country is tired !You don’t put fear in people when you do this you just show how coward YOU ARE ! And how America is really not the land of the free !

A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib) on May 26, 2020 at 7:00pm PDT

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, the woman behind the timely mini-series When They See Us about the wrongly-accused Central Park Five, also called for action in the wake of Floyd’s death. Many, like Floyd's sister Bridget, are demanding that the officers involved face a tougher punishment than losing their jobs. "I would like for those officers to be charged with murder because that’s exactly what they did. They murdered my brother; he was crying for help," she told NBC News.

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

John Boyega echoed Bridget Floyd’s sentiments, calling George's death a murder and saying that criminal charges should be laid.

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

Jamie Foxx reminded his followers about Colin Kaepernick’s controversial national anthem protest and why it still very much matters.

 

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In the words of @tyrinturner “now you get it...” #changecourse

A post shared by Jamie Foxx (@iamjamiefoxx) on May 26, 2020 at 7:19pm PDT

One of the most striking and moving messages came from Cynthia Erivo, known for her Oscar-nominated role in Harriet and Tony Award-winning work on Broadway. Erivo wrote about how she turns to music in times when words aren't enough to describe the pain.

 

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When I don’t have words I sing, when my heart hurts I sing, to watch yet another black body cut down hurt so I sing. ? #georgefloyd #ahmaudarbery #philandocastile #ericgarner #sandrabland #rumainbrisbon #tamirrice #laquanmcdonald #michaelbrownjr #ericharris #tonyrobinson #antwonrose #stephonclark #dariustarver #kwamejones#devonbailey #christopherwhitfield #seanreed #stevendemarcotaylor #altonsterling #arianemccree#terrencefranklin #mileshall #williamgreen #walterscott

A post shared by Cynthia Erivo (@cynthiaerivo) on May 26, 2020 at 5:35pm PDT

Other stars including Taylor Swift, Mandy Moore, Justin Bieber and Rita Wilson posted social media messages in support of justice for Floyd.[video_embed id='1966149']RELATED: 4 officers fired after George Floyd's death[/video_embed]