Now that Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted on all three counts for the death of George Floyd, celebrities and leftists everywhere are using the moment to push extreme rhetoric. Filmmaker Michael Moore has called for an end to “policing as we know it” while other Hollywood celebrities push messages of social justice.
“YES!! In handcuffs! Now on to the work!” Moore told his followers on Twitter. “All of us demand an end to white supremacy and white privilege. How many innocent black and brown ppl are in prison? Free them all! Arrest all police who break the law. Remove all racist cops. End policing as we know it. It doesn’t work.”
YES!!
In handcuffs!
Now on to the work!.
All of us demand an end to white supremacy and white privilege.
How many innocent black and brown ppl are in prison? Free them all! Arrest all police who break the law. Remove all racist cops. End policing as we know it. It doesn’t work.— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) April 20, 2021
Moore later thanked Darnella Frazier for filming the moment that led to George Floyd’s death.
“Darnella Frazier. Thank you. As a brave 17-year-old standing on that curb in Minneapolis, you took out your phone and hit record. You changed the world. No film in our time has been more important than yours. Now the rise-up, the fight, moves quickly forward. Thank you, Darnella,” he said.
Darnella Frazier. Thank you. As a brave 17-year old standing on that curb in Minneapolis, you took out your phone and hit record. You changed the world. No film in our time has been more important than yours. Now the rise-up, the fight, moves quickly forward. Thank you, Darnella.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) April 20, 2021
“This verdict is just the first step in a long line of injustice against the Black community, often with no consequences. The work is not nearly done. While there are many more families waiting for justice, my heart is with George Floyd’s family right now,” tweeted Justin Timberlake.
This verdict is just the first step in a long line of injustice against the Black community, often with no consequences. The work is not nearly done. While there are many more families waiting for justice, my heart is with George Floyd’s family right now. #PoliceReformNOW @NAACP
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 20, 2021
“A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd,” tweeted Kerry Washington.
A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021
“The jury did the right thing but will the judge do the right thing? Be careful family…the Empire always strikes back,” tweeted rapper Ice Cube.
The jury did the right thing but will the judge do the right thing? Be careful family…the Empire always strikes back.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) April 20, 2021
“George Floyd’s murder was another horrific reminder of our country’s broken law enforcement system and the damage it has inflicted on the Black community. Today’s verdict, though a beginning, will never be enough, but we hope his family can find peace,” tweeted “Full Frontal.”
George Floyd’s murder was another horrific reminder of our country’s broken law enforcement system and the damage it has inflicted on the Black community. Today’s verdict, though a beginning, will never be enough, but we hope his family can find peace. #BlackLivesMatter
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) April 20, 2021
Following the verdict on Tuesday, both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris said the George Floyd incident was indicative of America’s systemic racism.
“Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd last May,” Biden said. “It was a murder in full light of day and it ripped the blinders was off for the whole world to see the systemic racism the vice president just referred to. There’s systemic racism that’s a stain on our nation’s soul.”
“The knee on the neck of justice for black Americans, the found fear and trauma, the pain, the exhaustion that black and brown Americans experience every single day,” he continued. “The murder George Floyd, launched a summer of protests we hadn’t seen since the Civil Rights Era in the 60s, protests that unified people of every race and generation in peace and with purpose, to say enough, enough, enough of the senseless killings. Today, today’s verdict is a step forward. I just spoke with the governor of Minnesota who thanked me for the close work with his team.”