Celebrity1 min(s) read
Published 16:06 04 Jun 2020 GMT
Following John Boyega's powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London, the official Star Wars Twitter account has publicly stood behind the actor.
Boyega gave an emotional speech about America's history of police brutality against African-Americans, and his own experiences as a black man, at the demonstration that was held in the city's Hyde Park.
"We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence," Boyega said.
"I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f*** that."
Watch the full speech below:
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"I need you to understand how painful this s*** is," he continued. "I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing and that isn’t the case anymore, that was never the case anymore."
"Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don’t know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don’t know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we’re going to make sure that won’t be an alien thought to our young ones."
"Lucasfilm stands with John Boyega and his message that, 'Now is the time. Black lives have always mattered," the Star Wars Twitter account has since tweeted. "Black lives have always been important. Black lives have always meant something. The evil that is racism must stop. We will commit to being part of the change that is long overdue in the world. John Boyega. You are our hero."
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Boyega has been widely praised for his rousing speech, with Jordan Peele taking to Twitter to write, "We got you, John."
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Director Matthew A Cherry, corroborated: "I would work with John Boyega and I urge other Non-Black creators to affirm that they have his back as well."
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George Floyd, a black man, was arrested by Minneapolis police on Monday, May 25, for reportedly using a counterfeit $20 note in a store.
While being detained, ex-cop Derek Chauvin - a 19-year veteran of the force - knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Protests, both peaceful and violent, have since erupted across the US and in major cities across the world.
Yesterday, it was revealed that the three former police officers who accompanied Derek Chauvin as he retrained the late Floyd are to be charged in connection with the 46-year-old African-American's death.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar announced plans to charge ex-Minneapolis cops Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J Alexander Kueng.
Klobuchar tweeted:
"Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is increasing charges against Derek Chauvin to 2nd degree in George Floyd’s murder and also charging other 3 officers. This is another important step for justice."
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Lane and Kueng helped Chauvin restrain Floyd, while Thao stood nearby as the scene unfolded.
She also revealed that 42-year-old Chauvin has had charges against him upgraded from third-degree murder to second-degree murder.
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Details of any charges the former cops are set to face yet to be announced, and it is unclear whether those three officers will be charged with the same offense(s).
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