African American celebrities and activists are reacting to the death of a black man Monday, after a video showed a white officer kneeling on the man’s neck for several minutes as three other officers stood by.
“Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you??” Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James wrote on Instagram Wednesday, reacting to the death of George Floyd.
James also shared a photo that drew a comparison between the violent act of Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin committed on George Floyd, and former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful demonstrations during the U.S. national anthem where he took a knee to protest police brutality against African Americans.
According to MarketWatch, while citizens protested in the streets in Minnesota, Ava DuVernay posted a memorial to Floyd. Comedian Jamie Foxx and rapper Snoop Dogg also shared James’ photo on their social media pages.
“In the words of @tyrinturner ‘now you get it,’” Foxx wrote Tuesday.
“No justice just us,” Snoop Dogg wrote.
Comedian and producer Michael Rapaport posted a profanity-laced monolouge on Twitter slamming the officers and calling them “murderers.”
Floyd was killed Monday afternoon after police approached him because he matched the description of a suspect in a forgery case at a grocery store. Floyd was eventually pinned to the ground by officer Derek Chauvin who put his knee on Floyd’s neck and ignored repeated pleas to get off Floyd.
Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented the family of Trayvon Martin in the case against George Zimmerman, announced that Floyd’s family has retained him as the attorney to represent them in the case against the Minneapolis Police Department. The esteemed attorney is also representing Georgia shooting victim Ahmaud Arbery and police shooting victim Breonna Taylor.
The situation has become so dire that even President Donald Trump has commented, although he has yet to choose a side in the situation.
“We’re going to look at it, and we’re going to get a report tomorrow when we get back, and we’re going to get a very full report. But a very sad day,” Trump said during a press conference in Florida.