“They [the rubber bullets] were fired at peoples’ faces during peaceful moments of the demonstration. If you’re a follower of mine who ‘stays out of it’ but you’re mad I have a little bruise for doing nothing unlawful, then consider you ARE on our side. Because the reality of what happens to black folks every day is worse than my bruise. So get involved. Sign. Donate. Share links. Do something,” Halsey urged her followers to act.
According to celebrity expert Mike, it's no surprise that stars have joined the protests. "It’s not surprising that so many stars are joining the protests demanding justice for George Floyd. Even if they’re not there in person, they’re expressing their support on social media," Mike told Bored Panda.
"They see the inequalities, the injustice, and the racism just like the rest of us. They are sick and tired of it too, just like the rest of us."
Mike believes that the stars' support can lead to change. "When you’ve got someone like Taylor Swift, with her massive fan base and who doesn’t usually get involved in politics, tweeting about voting out the current president who stokes division, people will pay attention."
He also stated that in his opinion, more celebrities are likely to join, even if they might get injured like Halsey. "They are there to protest peacefully though, not get caught up in skirmishes with the police. They need to set an example of peaceful protest, and know that. Most celebrities would avoid any situation that is escalating and could lead to violence."
According to Mike, the US is more fractured than ever and there is an absence of leadership. "We have a president that sows division as part of a campaign strategy. He has never tried to unite the country," he said.
"But people are sick and tired of being sick and tired, and they are demanding change. Think about it—a pandemic, three months of isolation, massive unemployment, an economy in shambles, and now this. Even the president’s supporters are sick and tired of it. I firmly believe change is coming, and the country can be brought back together with the right leadership and reforms with our justice and legal systems. We’ve always survived, and will do so again," Mike stated.
Meanwhile, Beyoncé said in a video that "we need justice for George Floyd.” The star added: “We're broken, and we're disgusted. We cannot normalize this pain. I'm not only speaking to people of color. If you're white, black, brown, or anything in between, I'm sure you feel hopeless by the racism going on in America right now. No more senseless killings of human beings."
Lady Gaga also shared her thoughts about the situation. She said that she is outraged about Floyd’s death, claimed that “everyday people in America are racist,” and said that she wants to contribute to a solution, not to more violence.
At least 40 US cities have imposed curfews while the National Guard has been activated in 15 states and Washington DC after some of the protests turned violent. Four police officers involved in Floyd’s death have been fired.
One of them, Derek Chauvin, who was filmed with his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. He will appear in court on Monday. Many protestors believe that Chauvin’s charge isn’t harsh enough and also want the other police officers to be charged.
