Singer and actress Lady Gaga released a lengthy statement addressing the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, branding President Donald Trump a ‘racist fool’.
George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being arrested by police. Video footage shows police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he struggled to breathe and eventually passed away.
Chauvin was arrested Friday on suspicion of third-degree murder.
Lady Gaga criticized President Trump for ‘fueling racist activity’ in response to George Floyd’s death and subsequent protests. She expressed her fear of inciting further anger but emphasized the justified emotion behind it.
‘The voices of the black community have been silenced for too long and that silence has proven deadly time and time again. And no matter what they do to protest, they are still met with no compassion by the leaders that are meant to protect them. Everyday people in America are racist, that’s a fact,’ she wrote on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Lady Gaga called for support for the black community, urging all other communities to join forces to combat systemic racism.
‘We have known for a long time that President Trump has failed. He holds the most powerful office in the world, yet offers nothing but ignorance and prejudice while black lives continue to be taken,’ she stated. ‘We have known he is a fool, and a racist, since he took office. He is fueling a system that is already rooted in racism, and racist activity, and we can all see what is happening. It’s time for a change.’
She concluded by emphasizing the need to show love for the black community and pledging to use her platform to communicate the necessary changes in a non-violent way.
