Justin Timberlake posts pic of Rayshard Brooks cradling his baby, says 'black people in America are not safe'
Justin Timberlake, who has time and again championed anti-racism protests, spoke out once again condemning the fatal shooting of African-American man, Rayshard Brooks.
On Sunday, the 'Can't Stop The Feeling' singer took to his Instagram and penned a long post condemning the death of the 27-year-old man at the hands of the police on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia. His message was accompanied by a picture of Brooks cradling his child on his lap. "As a dad, this photo hurts. #RayshardBrooks was a father of three girls...1, 2, and 8 years old. He should not be dead. Neither should #RiahMilton, #DominiqueFells, and #RobertFuller. This week, these four innocent people became victims of racism, violence, and intolerance. And we’re still waiting for Justice for #BreonnaTaylor. I’m heartbroken for their families and for this country. The system needs to change... it has repeatedly shown us that Black people in America are not safe. I’ll follow up with more resources and ways to help. #BlackLivesMatter," he wrote.
Brooks was drunk and fell asleep at Wendy's drive-in on the night of June 12, prompting Atlanta PD to give him a sobriety test, which he failed. He resisted arrest, grabbed a Taser and fled on foot. He then turned back and pointed the Taser at a police officer, at which point he was shot dead. Soon after, a huge public outcry ensued, with some people terming it murder, and angry protestors even setting fire to the restaurant. Following this, the officer who shot Brooks was fired and police chief Erika Shields resigned.
This was not the first time that Timberlake had used his social media platform to try and be the voice for change in the society. "Please join me in supporting the Minneapolis protestors by donating to the @mnfreedomfund. The freedom fund is combatting the harms of incarceration by paying bail for low income individuals who cannot otherwise afford: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org," he wrote in a tweet last month after a number of protesters were arrested by the police after the nation saw massive unrest against police brutality following the death of George Floyd, another black man who was killed under police custody in Minneapolis.
However, his effort to do his bit for the community was met with resistance from GOP leaders. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) replied to his tweet, saying, "Justin, how about giving your millions to a fund to help the African-American and Hispanic small businesses that are being burned & looted, rather than a fund to bail out the spoiled (often white) ANTIFA terrorists who are destroying minority communities?"
Nevertheless, it did not deter Timberlake from using his platform as an amplifier of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement. Earlier this month, after all the officers involved in Floyd's death, were apprehended, Timberlake wrote on Instagram: "Yesterday I was happy to hear the other three officers were charged in the death of #GeorgeFloyd but today we continue to mourn with the family. I send my sincere condolences and prayers to them. We also know no one has yet to be charged in the death of #BreonnaTaylor so there is more work to do to bring her justice. There are crucial organizations on the ground who are doing the work to get her justice and do the work to end systematic racism. Please follow, donate and support their hard work. @colorofchange, @naacp, @mvmnt4blklives, @blackfutureslab, @byp100."