Jamie Foxx is lending his support to protesters following the death of George Floyd.
On Friday, the Academy Award-winning actor, 52, attended a social justice rally for Floyd, a black man who died earlier this week after being forcefully restrained by police, held at Minneapolis City Hall.
“This is the toughest time when things like this happen,” Foxx said at a press conference alongside retired NBA player Stephen Jackson, who grew up with Floyd and has been vocal about the injustice surrounding his death. “All I wanted to do was let you know that we’re not afraid to stand…we’re not afraid of the moment.”
Speaking of the cycle of police brutality against people of color, Foxx said that it “overcomplicates everything” black parents tell their children about “how to function in life.”
“Even the things that we’ve taught them don’t seem to work,” he continued, asking how is it that incidents with cops can escalate “to something like we have today.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced on Friday that the fired Minneapolis police officer, who was filmed placing his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Freeman also said that he anticipated charges would be brought against the three other fired officers who were present at the time of Floyd’s death on Monday.
When asked if public pressure, which included protests in Minneapolis and beyond that have turned violent, had anything to do with the charges, Freeman replied, "I am not insensitive to what's happened in the streets…[but] my job is to do it only when we have sufficient evidence."
In the initial media statement after Floyd's death, the Minneapolis Police Department alleged that he was "under the influence," and that police were responding to a report of forgery. Police also alleged that Floyd resisted arrest, although many lawmakers have questioned the account, pointing out that no video evidence shows Floyd resisting.
Source: Read Full Article