Celebrities react to Minnesota and La. police shootings
Celebrities took to social media to vent their frustrations and heartbreak over the police shootings of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana.
Some stars, like Amy Schumer, tweeted simple messages of support for the victims' communities, while others expressed outrage and asked their followers to take action and protest police brutality against black people. A few celebrities called out the National Rifle Association for its silence on the shootings.
While black celebrity activists like Jesse Williams and D.L. Hughley led the charge, stars like Kristen Bell, Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake joined the conversation as well to voice their hopes for change.
The fatal shooting of Castile in his car by a Minnesota police officer went viral Thursday, its aftermath broadcast live over Facebook by the victim's girlfriend, who cried that he had just been shot "for no apparent reason."
On Wednesday, disturbing video surfaced in the police killing of Sterling, who was reportedly armed. Sterling was selling homemade CDs in front of a convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1) In the interest of time, would ye noble patriots please provide a list of infractions punishable by spontaneous public execution? Thanks!
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016
2) Upon receipt of this list, we'll return to our quarters and study up, eager to enjoy freedoms of white mass murders. #LIFEHACK
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016
3) You chumps will NEVER provide this list... We see through you.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016
If you can watch that video & not feel sorrow and pain for #AltonSterling's children, then you're not human.
— jurnee smollett (@jurneesmollett) July 7, 2016
Heartbroken for #altonsterling's family and friends.
— P!nk (@Pink) July 6, 2016
#altonsterling I am just heartbroken today for his family. We need change. 😔
— Jenna Dewan Tatum (@jennaldewan) July 6, 2016
#AltonSterling. Say his name.
— Samira Wiley (@samirawiley) July 6, 2016
Love to Louisiana #AltonSterling
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 6, 2016
Tossed & turned in my sleep last night just so sad, & it's frustrating SMH #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 7, 2016
"Philando Castile would have turned 33 on Friday." https://t.co/Xt7jYGtKAy
— roxane gay (@rgay) July 7, 2016
The hatred in people's heart really makes me sick to my stomach. #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling #blacklivesmatter
— SERAYAH (@Serayah) July 7, 2016
#PhilandoCastile was next. That was fast. He COMPLIED AND DIED. 💔
— Keri Hilson (@KeriHilson) July 7, 2016
Another day, another hashtag. You didn't deserve this, brother. You didn't deserve this. #PhilandoCastile
— NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) July 7, 2016
While I was being interviewed about the death of #AltonSterling in LA, #PhilandoCastile was murdered by cops in MN. Enough already.
— Tavis Smiley (@tavissmiley) July 7, 2016
This is heartbreaking watching another man killed in such a manner. God Bless his family and those in pain #PhilandoCastile
— Randall Cobb (@rcobb18) July 7, 2016
I have a concealed carry permit. But I'll never get shot for telling that to a police officer if I'm pulled over. #PhilandoCastile #ENOUGH
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) July 7, 2016
Have I missed the statement from the NRA today on Philando Castile? They should be riding hard for that man's family.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 7, 2016
Philando Castile. Alton Sterling.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 7, 2016
Never coming home.
Black lives matter. Not just as a hashtag, not just in all caps, in real life.
Demonstration for #AltonSterling & #PhilandoCastile at 5PM today in Union Square NYC.
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) July 7, 2016
It's too much!!!
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) July 7, 2016
ICYMI full interview today on @CNN @NewDay #PhilandoCastile#AltonSterlinghttps://t.co/zzRL7zSCG3
.@NRA we know that NOONE fights so hard for "the right to legally bear arms" more than you do. That said... #PhilandoCastile? Anyone?
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) July 7, 2016
Praying for Lavish Reynolds and her 4 year old daughter & #PhilandoCastile's mother. Black women deserve BETTER! I'm disgusted & heartbroken
— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) July 7, 2016
If we stay content with a broken system the blame is on ALL OF US. #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling https://t.co/QxBmq4IQkB
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) July 7, 2016
When the fuck is it going to end? 😡😢#AltonSterling #PhilandoCastile #CountlessOthers
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) July 7, 2016
Perhaps if we witness enough tragedy we will reflect on our shortcomings & make decisive change. #PhilandoCastile pic.twitter.com/S9Hsgq6SMU
— Adrian Grenier (@adriangrenier) July 7, 2016
"I have not identified my son's body because they didn't let me" --#PhilandoCastile's mother https://t.co/PuUlaVfW2p https://t.co/fSLV4J4b98
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 7, 2016
Click the link in my bio to go to Beyonce.com. Turn our anger into action.
A photo posted by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on