Politics

Beyoncé Responds to the Killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile

July 7th 2016

Beyoncé just responded to the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men who were fatally shot by police this week.

The singer shared the following image on Instagram Thursday afternoon and directed fans to her website for a longer statement:

On her website, Beyoncé wrote that it's up to the black community to "demand that they 'stop killing us.'"

BeyoncéBeyoncé - beyonce.com

Beyoncé added that these deaths have made the black community "feel helpless and hopeless."

BeyoncéBeyoncé - beyonce.com

BeyoncéBeyoncé - beyonce.com

Her full written statement is transcribed below, courtesy of BuzzFeed:

"We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities.

It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they ‘stop killing us.’

We don’t need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives.

We’re going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violent action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished.

These robberies of lives make us feel helpless and hopeless but we have to believe that we are fighting for the rights of the next generation, for the next young men and women who believe in God.

This is a human fight. No matter your race, gender, or sexual orientation. This is a fight for anyone who feels marginalized, who is struggling for freedom and human rights.

This is not a plea to all police officers but toward any human being who fails to value life. The war on people of color and all minorities needs to be over.

Fear is not an excuse. Hate will not win.

We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action. We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes.

While we pray for the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, we will also pray for an end to this plague of injustice in our communities.

Click in to contact the politicians and legislators in your area. Your voice will be heart."
-Beyoncé

Beyoncé also held a moment of silence for people who have been killed in police shootings, according to New York Daily News.

Beyoncé's response to recent incidents of police brutality follows similar statements from fellow musicians John Legend and Drake.

[H/T BuzzFeed]

Related: Beyonce's Super Bowl Halftime Show Was a Tribute to Black History

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