Real Talk 2nd June 2020 by Denise Curtin

20 Celebrity Quotes On The Black Lives Matter Movement That Are Worth A Read Today

'#GeorgeFloyd: We speak your name. But this time we will not let your name be just a hashtag...'

 

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Following the horrific death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died at the hands of a white police officer, our social media feeds have been full of anger. People are upset, disappointed and fed up with a system that perpetrates inequality. A system that treats you differently depending on the colour of your skin.

But in order for anything to change, it’s up to us to be the driving force. To speak out, to do better, to educate ourselves and to stand together.

Yesterday, a day noted as Blackout Tuesday, saw people across the world posting in solidarity by sharing a black square to their social media feeds.

The movement asked people to stop posting what they normally would and instead, take a day of reflection. A day to think about how we can fight racism and build a better world. One that sees everyone the same.

And so, behind the global Black Lives Matter movement, and Blackout Tuesday, which both call on people all over the world to do better – here are 20 powerful quotes from celebrities behind the movement over the past couple of days.

And before you read some powerful words, know that you can find more information and a list of ways you can help from donations to petitions here.

The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) also has a whole list of resources and an app for helping you to report racism when you see it. You can download the iReport.ie app onto your phone or visit their website here.

Billie Eilish

 

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Michelle Obama

 

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Like so many of you, I’m pained by these recent tragedies. And I’m exhausted by a heartbreak that never seems to stop. Right now it’s George, Breonna, and Ahmaud. Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on. Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us. Artwork: @nikkolas_smith

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Grace Carter

 

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George Floyd is not the first black man to be killed by a police officer, this is happening everyday. POC are living in fear knowing that one wrong step in someone else’s eyes could end in their life being wrongfully taken away. This doesn’t just happen in America, one of my earliest memories was being 5 years old and walking down the road in Kensal Green to see 10 police officers pile on top of one black man, for what reason? In what situation do you ever need 10 men on 1. The man was screaming out ‘please get off me’ and it was like no one could hear him but me. From that day I had a fear of the police, I saw them as the bad guys because instead of witnessing them helping people I had witnessed them hurting people again and again emotionally and physically. The black men in my life had a completely valid hostility towards the police all based on experience. I remember my neighbour worked so hard and afforded himself a nice sports car. Every time he drove it he was stopped by the police assuming he had stolen it, it got to the point where the nice car he had spent his hard earned money and had always dreamt of having wasn’t worth the negative attention and the constant stop and searches. The point I’m making is this is so many people’s reality but a lot of people choose not to see it. If it doesn’t concern you it may not come into your space… now is the time to step up and speak out! It doesn’t matter where you’re from, who you are this bullshit has been going on for far too long.

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Kim Kardashian West

 

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Beyoncé

 

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Lizzo

 

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Perrie Edwards

 

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Halsey

 

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It’s become very clear to me that some of you need to see what I’ve seen. Please swipe through this. These pictures and videos don’t even scratch the surface. It’s easy from the comfort of your home to watch looting and rioting on television and condone the violent measures being taken by forces. But what you don’t see is innocent peaceful protestors being shot at and tear gassed and physically assaulted relentlessly. You think it’s not happening, it’s only the “thugs” and the “riots”, right? The police are keeping you safe right? You’re wrong. This is happening everywhere. And innocent people exercising their rights to speech and assembly are facing violence and abuse of power. With all of our medical professionals being CONSUMED and EXHAUSTED with Covid, there is little to no medical attention available. I have first hand treated men women and children who have been shot in the chest, the face, the back. Some will lose vision some have lost fingers. I have been covered in innocent blood. My father is a black man. My mother is an EMT. This week I had to put those two associations together in ways that have horrified me. This is NOT a virtue signaling post. But I HAVE to show you what I am witnessing with my own eyes. With Trump’s decision today to enforce the mobilization of armed forces on our own citizens, this has escalated beyond your privilege and comfort to not care. Please care. We are begging you to care. This is war on Americans. This is everyone’s problem. Everyone’s. #BLACKLIVESMATTER

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Rihanna

 

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For the last few days, the magnitude of devastation, anger, sadness I’ve felt has been overwhelming to say the least! Watching my people get murdered and lynched day after day pushed me to a heavy place in my heart! To the point of staying away from socials, just to avoid hearing the blood curdling agony in George Floyd’s voice again, begging over and over for his life!!! The look of enticement, the pure joy and climax on the face of this bigot, murderer, thug, pig, bum, Derek Chauvin, haunts me!! I can’t shake this! I can’t get over an ambulance pulling up to an arrest, a paramedic checking a pulse without removing the very thing that’s hindering it! Is this that fucking normal??? If intentional MURDER is the fit consequence for “drugs” or “resisting arrest”….then what’s the fit consequence for MURDER???! #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor

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Priyanka Chopra

 

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There is so much work to be done and it needs to starts at an individual level on a global scale. We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and end this hate. End this race war here in the US, and around the world. Wherever you live, whatever your circumstances, NO ONE deserves to die, especially at the hands of another because of their skin color. ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ On May 25th, George Floyd was pinned down by the neck by a Minneapolis police officer and died. He laid there, fighting for his life, struggling to breathe, and other officers just stood there and watched. The officer has now been charged with murder.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ George, I am praying for your family. ❤️ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Text “FLOYD” to 55156 and sign the petition. ⁣⁣⁣ #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd

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Florence Given

 

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Amber Rose Gill

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Reese Witherspoon

 

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Last night at dinner, my 7-year-old asked why all the grown ups were so upset. We spoke to him about what happened to George Floyd. Being a white mother trying to explain racism and bigotry to her white son, who did not understand why anyone would treat another human being that way, was heartbreaking. But not nearly as heartbreaking as being a victim of one of these senseless, violent, unconscionable crimes. Not nearly as heartbreaking as being one of the families who have experienced loss and harassment and discrimination daily. Not nearly as heartbreaking as being a mother who lives in fear of what will happen to her children in this world. I grew up going to church. We were taught that we were all the same in the eyes of God. We all breathe the same air. We all bleed the same blood. But that is not what I grew up seeing. It was as hard for me to reconcile the difference between what I was taught in church and what I see in the world. I don’t want that for my kids. Or for yours. We have to be held accountable for what is happening in this country. What happened to George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery – and countless others – can not go without justice. Please talk to your children about racism, privilege, bigotry and hate. If you aren’t talking to them, someone else is. Regarding comments: I urge you to share this space for meaningful discussion, not hate. There is enough hate in the world. I hope this can be a space for discussion, understanding, growth and LOVE. We all need more of that.

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Hailey Bieber

 

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This week we had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with @AngelaRye. As a white woman, I know I am privileged, and I didn’t always understand what that really meant. I will never understand what it’s like to be racially profiled and targeted and wake up everyday uncertain if I could lose my life because of the color of my skin. Through this conversation with Angela I really just wanted to learn, to ask questions even if I thought they were the wrong question. I want to know better so I can do better and I will not stop asking these questions and having these conversations. I want to keep learning how to be an ally, and I refuse to keep walking through life being ignorant. #BlackLivesMatter

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Emily Ratajkowski

 

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Jade Thirlwall

 

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Oprah

 

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I’ve been trying to process what can be said or heard in this moment. I haven’t been able to get the image of the knee on his neck out of my head. It’s there every morning when I rise and when I go through the ordinary duties of the day. While pouring coffee, lacing my shoes, and taking a breath, I think: He doesn’t get to do this. And now the video from the other angle of two other officers pinning him down. My heart sinks even deeper. His family and friends say he was a gentle giant. His death has now shown us he had a giant soul. If the largeness of a soul is determined by its sphere of influence, George Floyd is a Mighty soul. #GeorgeFloyd: We speak your name. But this time we will not let your name be just a hashtag. Your spirit is lifted by the cries of all of us who call for justice in your name!

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Cardi B

Harry Styles

Madonna

 

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Malcom ❌ gives a powerful speech in 1965 at Oxford University. …………….. I’m not promoting violence but there comes a time when a Man or a Woman can no longer accept being treated like a second class citizen. The extremist behavior that I’m hoping and praying for Is Tolerance and Understanding. In all sectors of our communities. . This can only come through Education. Teaching our children that No Human Being should be persecuted or discriminated against or be treated less than Human based on the color of their skin. Their religion. Their sexual preference, their gender or their age. If a conversation is hard………….. it’s the one that needs to be had. ♥️ 🙏 ♥️ #malcomx #blacklivesmatter #nojusticenopeace

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Now is the time to take a moment to reflect, educate and act.

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