Meghan Markle speaks on George Floyd's "devastating" death
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has spoken out about the "devastating" death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody.
Floyd's death has prompted demonstrations and protests across the United States and around the world, with people demanding an end to systemic racial injustice and inequality.
Markle addressed the recent events in a video recorded for students graduating from the Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, where she referred to Floyd's passing as a "senseless act of racism" (via Reuters).
Related: Marvel stars Chris Evans, Michael B Jordan, Don Cheadle and more rally behind Black Lives Matter
"For the past couple of weeks I've been planning on saying a few words to you for your graduation, and as we've all seen over the last week what is happening in our country, and in our state, and in our home town of LA is absolutely devastating," the Duchess said.
"[The] first thing I want to say to you is that I'm sorry," she continued. "I'm so sorry that you have to grow up in a world where this is still present."
Meghan admitted that she had originally felt "nervous" about commenting on the unrest, but concluded that "the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing."
In a powerful statement, she continued: "Because George Floyd's life mattered, and Breonna Taylor's life mattered, and Philando Castile's life mattered, and Tamir Rice's life mattered, and so did so many other people whose names we know, and whose names we do not know."
Meghan, Britain’s Duchess of Sussex, talks about the events following the death of George Floyd in a video she recorded for students graduating from her old high school in Los Angeles https://t.co/jg44YizKeT pic.twitter.com/P4ZVsVW0uB
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 4, 2020
Related: Digital Spy Black Lives Matter statement
The former Suits actress, who is now married to Prince Harry, reflected on her own memories of the LA riots in 1992, telling the students that she regrets they are experiencing the same thing not "as a history lesson", but as reality.
Markle also shared some advice given to her by a teacher before she graduated high school, reminding students to "put others' needs above your own fears."
She added: "I'm sorry that in a way we have not gotten the world to the place you deserve it to be."
For more information on how you can support Black Lives Matter, please visit its official website or donate here. Readers can also donate to the UK anti-discrimination group Stand Up To Racism, and the Unite Families & Friends Campaign, which supports those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody.
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