Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in police custody after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knees on his neck for almost nine minutes during his arrest. His death has sparked demonstrations in the United States and throughout the world.
Grammy-winning artists shared a poignant message on Instagram Wednesday, which featured aerial photographs of thousands of Black Lives Matter demonstrators filling the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The accompanying images are the words: “The world comes together for George Floyd. We know there is a long way ahead. Let’s stay in harmony and focus in our call for true justice.”
After Floyd’s death, Beyoncé expressed his pain and anger on Instagram, asking his fans to take action and refusing to “normalize pain.”
“We are damaged and we are disgusted,” he said in a passionate video posted to his Instagram page. “We can’t normalize this pain. I’m not just talking to people of color. If you’re white, black, brown, and anything in between, I’m sure you feel hopeless about racism in America now.”
The “Formation” chanter went on to say that “we have seen too many cruel killings too often and there are no consequences.”
“Yes, someone has been sued, but justice is far from being achieved.”
He concluded the message by urging his followers to sign several petitions, adding: “Continue to pray for peace and compassion and healing for our country.”
