Johnny Depp mourns 'grotesque' murder of George Floyd, slams 'judgmental ugliness' of racism
Johnny Depp has put forth his thoughts on the gruesome killing of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer. The 56-year-old 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star took to Instagram Thursday and shared a message with his followers alongside a video of rapper Killer Mike delivering an emotional speech at the Mayor's office in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday.
Depp touched on the disturbing details of Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, Minnesota last month while addressing broader issues of systemic racism and police brutality.
"As the majority of American people, our global community and our extended family of humans helplessly watched a man die on television," the 'Donnie Brasco' star wrote, before noting how "a handcuffed man, pleading for his life lay prone with the full weight of a man sworn to defend the peace on his neck."
"The victim of this heinous act of cowardice, George Floyd, told the officers that he could not breathe. As he called for his dead mother, how could our collective hearts not break as his face was ground and mashed firmly into the pavement by those sworn to protect him, and all of us?" Depp asked.
"Justice, I desperately hope, will address the horror of Officer Chauvin’s nonchalance and indifference to his participation in the agony, suffering, and ultimately the murder of our fellow traveler George Floyd in a grotesque illustration of the abuse of power!" the Oscar-nominated actor continued.
"There is no way to make sense of what is senseless. There is no way to restore a life that has been taken. Just as there is no way to un-break a heart that is broken," he added. "What we can do is make a vow to ourselves that racism and the ignorance inherent in such judgmental ugliness that it gives birth to, is NO LONGER AN OPTION!!! THERE MUST BE A CHANGE!!! DEMAND IT!"
In conclusion, Depp applauded his "dear friend and brother" Killer Mike of Run The Jewels, describing him as "a brilliant musician, artist, [and] activist for social justice."
"He is also, one of the kindest, most caring, and loving human beings that I’ve ever had the pleasure and honor to know!!! I beg everyone to listen to the remarks of this true statesman. True statesmen have never been so needed, and they’ve never been in such short supply," the Hollywood star concluded.
The death of George Floyd has set off a string of emotions that have taken the form of a massive movement across the United States, as well as other parts of the world. As much as people raised a cry over another senseless killing of an unarmed black man, they were equally outraged by the manner in which he was killed. 46-year-old Floyd is seen in viral footage from May 25 lying on the street with handcuffs on during his arrest as former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck, almost crushing his head on the pavement underneath. “I can’t breathe,” Floyd repeatedly says in the footage. “Please. Please. Please. I can’t breathe. Please, man.” Bystanders also urge the officer to get off Floyd's neck but he refuses to listen, kneeling on it for nearly nine minutes till Floyd loses consciousness.
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and third-degree manslaughter in his death. Three other officers involved in the arrest — Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and JA Kueng — have also been charged with aiding and abetting murder following nationwide outrage that they should be brought to justice as well. If convicted, all four officers face 40-year terms in prison.