Beyoncé on Thursday released a powerful statement in response to the recent officer-involved shootings of two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
Beyoncé’s website has been updated with a simple black screen on the homepage that displayed a call to action from the pop star.
https://twitter.com/moonwalkingsvt/status/751140889142198272
“We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities,” the statement read. “It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they ‘stop killing us.’”
Video of Sterling’s death recorded by witnesses in a nearby car show two police officers pinning the father of five to the ground outside the Triple S Food Mart in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Castile was allegedly shot Wednesday night by police officers during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, as his girlfriend captured the graphic aftermath on Facebook Live.
“Fear is not an excuse. Hate will not win,” Beyoncé wrote. “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.”
Beyoncé’s post links to a general directory of the members of Congress, the Louisiana legislature for Sterling, and the Minnesota representatives for Castile.
“We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action,” she wrote. “We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes.”
Soon after Beyoncé’s call to action went up, one of the websites she linked to, contactingthecongress.org, crashed, according to USA Today.
https://twitter.com/dennisjansen/status/751145130116034561
Fans showed appreciation for Beyoncé’s call to action:
For someone like Beyoncé, who knows & appreciates her own influence, to not beat about the bush is exactly what despondent people need.
— Ottilia Anna MaSibanda (@MaS1banda) July 7, 2016
BEYONCÉ WENT OFF ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/F6b9WfnCJC
— evan 𐚁 (@beyonseh) July 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/litebrown_juvie/status/751158723226152960
https://twitter.com/outsiders4lyfe/status/751158598001197060
Read her full letter here.
On Thursday, while performing in Glasgow, Beyoncé likewise projected the two men’s names on-screen during the final act of her concert.
The final act of Beyonce's show opens with this screen. First two names are Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. pic.twitter.com/zwkpwTMjmN
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) July 7, 2016