Members of the music and film community around the world are supporting a new fund to assist protestors following the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis late on Monday (May 25) following an altercation with police officers. Floyd, who was African American, was killed when a white police officer appeared to kneel on his neck as he lay on the ground during an arrest.
Since the incident, the four officers involved have lost their jobs but, at present, none are facing criminal charges. The incident has since led to hundreds protesting on the streets in Minnesota.
A new fund set up to help those protesting has gone viral after it was shared by artists from across the music and film industries.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund helps arrested protestors access bail money as the protests continue. Those donating can “match” an amount given by another person.
You can see just some of the support the campaign has received from the likes of Janelle MonĂĄe, Noname, Thundercat and Halsey in the tweets below.
Just gave $1000 to @MNFreedomFund. Celebrity accounts that follow me… match
https://t.co/qMW7GnTpJs
— Noname (@noname) May 28, 2020
matched
— black (@6LACK) May 28, 2020
Matched. X
— Jameela Jamil
(@jameelajamil) May 28, 2020
matched https://t.co/nE8CQO2mZ4 pic.twitter.com/rNH2pXJNLb
— Rich Brian (@richbrian) May 29, 2020
Matched https://t.co/vTTwzppxp3 pic.twitter.com/ho3G2MfueP
— CupcakKe (@CupcakKe_rapper) May 29, 2020
Matched. https://t.co/qhwGUtrywc
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 28, 2020
@noname matched
pic.twitter.com/FFLIb2wEsd
— ashy daddy (@Thundercat) May 29, 2020
The Minnesota Freedom Fund: @mnfreedomfund https://t.co/GPRgTliiYd pays jail bonds for those who cannot afford to fight discriminatory and coercive jailing
— h (@halsey) May 28, 2020
Reports of the incident said officers responded to a call from a grocery store who claimed Floyd had used a forged check. The police later alleged Floyd âphysically resisted officersâ while he âappeared to be under the influenceâ.
However, footage of the incident shows Floyd on the floor shouting âI cannot breatheâ and âdonât kill meâ to an officer who was kneeling on his neck. Witnesses in the background could be heard shouting âbro, heâs not even fucking movingâ while another asked the officer in question: âYouâre going to just sit there with your knee on his neck?â
In a press conference held on Tuesday (May 26), the Minneapolis police department said Floyd later âdied a short timeâ after a âmedical incident.â They added: â[The officers] were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and realised that the suspect was suffering a medical distress [before] calling an ambulance.â
The mayor of Minnesota apologised to Floydâs family yesterday morning, saying â[Floyd] should not have diedâ and that the incident was âwrong on every level.â He continued: âFor five minutes we watched as a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of a black man,â Frey said. âFor five minutes. This officer failed in the most basic human sense.â
Benjamin Crump, the attorney speaking on behalf of Floydâs family, released a statement saying that they are seeking justice and want answers following the incident. âThis abusive, excessive and inhumane use of force cost the life of a man who was being detained by the police for questioning about a non-violent charge,â Crump said.
He continued: âHow many âwhite blackâ deaths will it take until the racial profiling and undervaluing of black lives by police finally ends?â The F.B.I are currently investigating the incident.
The incident prompted outrage on social media with many artists calling for the officers in question to be charged. Ice Cube, Janelle Monåe, Garbage, Sleaford Mods, Shame and Glass Animals were amongst the many voices speaking out.
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