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Michelle Obama, The Rock and More Celebs Call Out Systemic Racism Amid George Floyd Protests

Michelle Obama, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Tyler Perry, Billie Eilish and Reese Witherspoon are among the celebrities who took to social media Saturday to call out systemic racism in the United States, as protests in response to George Floyd’s death continue across the country.

“Like so many of you, I’m pained by these recent tragedies,” the former FLOTUS tweeted Saturday. “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.”

In a thread of tweets, she continued: “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.”

Also Read: Beyonce Demands 'Justice' for George Floyd: 'We Can No Longer Look Away' (Video)

Johnson, too, called for change following Floyd’s death, asking for the country’s leaders to “normalize equality.”

“Past few days I’ve been stunned trying make sense of George Floyd’s death,” Johnson said via a post he shared on both Twitter and Instagram. “The video. The plea for breath. The callous response. The racism. The killing. This is our ongoing disease. I’ve had cops in my family. Good men. And there’s a cop code, granting you the authority to use force if your life is in danger. But when a man is handcuffed, on the ground, no longer a threat, with your brothers in arms standing around watching and he struggles to say, ‘please I can’t breathe’ when your knee is on his neck.. not his back, but his neck – cutting off his air. Cop code must become moral code. Ethics code. HUMANITY code.”

He went on: “Knowing that if you don’t ease up, then that man is going to die. So when you decide to not ease up, your intention is to kill. And that’s what this was. George Floyd, said ‘officer I can’t breathe’ as he struggled for air. He said these words a total of 15 times. Not once. Not twice. 15 times. These officers will be charged, I’m positive of that. Held accountable. But then where’s the greater accountability? The leadership to healing. More importantly, the leadership to EQUALITY. We ultimately win when we can normalize equality. I’m so sorry to the Floyd family. My heart breaks for you. Let the process begin now. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #NormalizeEquality.”

Tyler Perry took to Facebook to share a video of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ Friday press conference discussing the city’s protests. The prolific producer asked his fans to “stop the violence” and instead peacefully protest the deaths of Floyd and other black people who have died as the result of police brutality.

“I’m not in Atlanta, but if I were I would have been standing with our Mayor! But there was nothing I could say better than what Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said last night!” Perry wrote. “Please, please stop this violence!! Looting is NOT THE ANSWER!!!! And listen to me, be careful where you are getting your information to JOIN protests!! There are people and other countries who are posting things pretending to be US, pretending to stand for peaceful protest, but they are trying to incite us into violence and chaos to try and do more harm!! Do not fall for this foolishness!!! Please stop the violence!”

Witherspoon encouraged people to talk to their children about Floyd’s death and systemic racism.

“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,” the “Morning Show” star tweeted. “Please talk to your children about racism, privilege, bigotry and hate. If you aren’t talking to them, someone else is.”

Also Read: George Floyd Protests: National Guard 'Fully' Mobilized in Minnesota

Last night, Beyonce lent her voice to the call for “justice for George Floyd” and demand a stronger reaction from authorities and politicians to police brutality and racism.

Floyd was arrested by Minneapolis police Monday after an employee at a convenience store called authorities to say he suspected Floyd of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. During Floyd’s arrest, white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, an act that was caught on video by several bystanders. In the clips, Floyd can be heard asking officers to let him breathe but is not shown to be resisting. Paramedics were called to the scene, where they found Floyd to be unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead.

Chauvin has since been fired by the Minneapolis police, arrested and charged with third-degree murder in connection to Floyd’s death. The three other officers who were involved in the arrest have not been charged, though they were also fired.

Also Read: George Floyd Protests in Los Angeles Declared an 'Unlawful Assembly' After Clashes Between Protesters and Police

See posts from Obama, Johnson, Perry, Witherspoon, Eilish and more celebrities below.

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. pic.twitter.com/lFWEtTzVT8

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020

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.

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020

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.

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020

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.

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020

I wish I could post something to uplift or lighten hearts today. I can’t. I would say to hold your loved ones close but for many of us, we can’t even do that now. We must get thru today and know that only we can make change. Please God, let us make that change.

— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) May 30, 2020

Past few days I’ve been stunned trying make sense of George Floyd’s death.
The video.
The plea for breath.
The callous response.
The racism.
The killing.
This is our ongoing disease.
I’ve had cops in my… https://t.co/BxWUkhXBkN

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

Not nearly as heartbreaking as being a mother who lives in fear of what will happen to her children in this world.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

Please talk to your children about racism, privilege, bigotry and hate. If you aren’t talking to them, someone else is.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

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.

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 30, 2020

View this post on Instagram

#justiceforgeorgefloyd #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by BILLIE EILISH (@billieeilish) on May 30, 2020 at 3:31am PDT

This speaks volumes… #Vote pic.twitter.com/RwsSEoxRCO

— Viola Davis (@violadavis) May 30, 2020

I was born white. I cant know what it feels like to be black. I can GUESS. But if my “guess” is based on distant history & NOT so distant history, I’d be in terror half the time! I’d rather listen to those who are black. They KNOW. THEY can help the rest of us change this.❤️

— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) May 30, 2020

Making speeches about, scolding about, making points that are attempting the moralizing of riots, will not stop rioting.
They'll continue while violent acts against the innocent happen on our streets.While the murder of people of color continue.
They are muzzled and NOT HEARD.

— Vincent D'Onofrio (@vincentdonofrio) May 30, 2020

I know what it means to have people who don’t fully understand your plight stand alongside you. The LGBTQ community achieved huge equality strides from the momentum and support that our allies provided us.

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) May 30, 2020

Standing alongside black citizens as a white person is a privilege that I proudly exercise as a member of the human race. In the same way that I didn’t expect those who supported me to arrive with a full tool box of knowledge, I know that I too have a lot to learn.

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) May 30, 2020

Now is the time to listen. Now is the time to raise our voices. I ❤️ you.

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) May 30, 2020

I’m not in Atlanta, but if I were I would have been standing with our Mayor! But there was nothing I could say better…

Posted by Tyler Perry on Saturday, May 30, 2020

Protests in response to Floyd’s death have broken out this week in Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, among other cities across the United States.

On Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department declared the city’s protests an “unlawful assembly” after clashes between protestors and police. On Saturday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced that the state’s National Guard has been “fully” mobilized in response to the demonstrations, which he says have turned into “wanton destruction and chaos” and “made a mockery” of Floyd’s death.

Read original story Michelle Obama, The Rock and More Celebs Call Out Systemic Racism Amid George Floyd Protests At TheWrap