Beyoncé Speaks Out After 4 Officers Involved in George Floyd's Death Charged: 'There Is a Long Road Ahead'

From ELLE

Beyoncé acknowledged the news yesterday that all four officers involved in George Floyd's death have been charged, encouraging her fans to remain focused as the Black Lives Matter movement continues. The fight isn't done.

"The world came together for George Floyd," she wrote on Instagram. "We know there is a long road ahead. Let’s remain aligned and focused in our call for real justice."

George Floyd was killed on May 25 after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground and pressed his knee into his neck, while Floyd pleaded for help and repeatedly said he could not breathe. Two officers, Thomas Lane and J.Alexander Keung, helped restrain Floyd, and one other, Tou Thao, watched the events nearby. The incident was filmed and shared online. All four officers were fired from their jobs after the video came out and sparked outrage, and by June 3, all were charged.

Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter initially. Yesterday, his charges were increased to second-degree murder.

The three other officers involved were all charged yesterday with two charges each of aiding and abetting Chauvin in connection to Floyd's death, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, per Buzzfeed. All four officers are in police custody now.

Beyoncé first spoke out about George Floyd's death on Friday in a video she posted to her Instagram. "We need justice for George Floyd," she began. "We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We're broken, and we're disgusted. We cannot normalize this pain. I'm not only speaking to people of color. If you're white, black, brown, or anything in between, I'm sure you feel hopeless by the racism going on in America right now. No more senseless killings of human beings. No more seeing people of color as less than human. We can no longer look away. George is all of our family in humanity. He's our family because he's a fellow American. There have been too many times that we've seen these violent killings and no consequences. Yes, someone's been charged, but justice is far from being achieved. Please sign the petition and continue to pray for peace, compassion, and healing for our country. Thank you so much."

You Might Also Like

• 10 Pairs of White Sneakers That Go With Everything

• 50 Surprising Things You Never Knew About 'Sex and the City'

• 20 Serums to Solve All Your Skincare Problems