Paul McCartney has spoken about George Floyd's death. The Beatle expressed support for the victims of racism and called for justice in a Facebook post-Friday, June 5.
McCartney opened his statement by saying that many people want to know what they can do to help in the middle of the protests. He then encouraged people to work together to "overcome racism in any form." The 77-year-old icon also urged people to learn more and educate themselves about racism and take action.
He then went to recall their past show on Jacksonville in 1964. The Fab Four later found out about the segregated audience. "It felt wrong," Paul McCartney wrote on his statement. The band didn't agree at performing for separated black and white audiences. The concert setup was changed. The Beatles then "made sure this was in our contract."
"To us it seemed like common sense," Paul McCartney said about not segregating their audiences.
"I feel sick and angry that here we are almost 60 years later and the world is in shock at the horrific scenes of the senseless murder of George Floyd at the hands of police racism, along with the countless others that came before," Paul McCartney continued. He expressed support to everyone "protesting and raising their voices at this time." He also called for justice for Floyd's family and everyone who died and suffered because of racism.
"Saying nothing is not an option," Paul McCartney concluded.
"I Can't Breathe"
Paul McCartney's post included a list of charitable institutions people can support "in the fight for racial justice." It included links for Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, NAACP, and Stand Up To Racism. It also tagged civil rights groups Campaign Zero, and Community Justice Exchange.
George Floyd was the 46-year-old African-American man who died last May 25. A viral video showed how former Minneapolis cop Derek Chavin knelt on his neck. This happened after Floyd was pinned on the ground. According to Hennepin County's medical examiner, Floyd already had underlying health conditions. The Texas-native driver had coronary artery and hypertensive heart diseases,
However, Chauvin reportedly pressed his knee on Floyd for a total of 8 minutes and 46 seconds. For two minutes and fifty-three seconds after Floyd passed out, Chauvin still kept his knee.
A Global Call For Change
George Floyd's death has sparked nationwide protests, later to other parts of the world. Last week, K-Pop fans around the world stood together with the Black Lives Matter protesters by hijacking racist hashtags. Fans across the globe filled Twitter and Instagram with footage of their idols. Fandoms for various Korean acts took over far-right, pro-Trump, and pro-police hashtags, rendering them useless for rallying white-supremacists and voicing racist opinions.
Also, in Vancouver, Canada, thousands of people have gathered downtown to condemn racism in a peaceful rally at Jack Poole Plaza. Local police estimated the crowd to be somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 people. The protesters chanted the names of Black Canadians who also died at the hands of law enforcement personnel. Following safety measures against COVID-19, volunteers handed out masks and sanitizers among the crowd.
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