Johnny Depp vows to fight racism, shares a heartfelt message

Johnny Depp has opened up on the murder of George Floyd, urging people to use this tragic event to call for the end of systemic racism

By Web Desk
June 06, 2020

Johnny Depp vows to fight racism, shares a heartfelt message

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'Pirates of Caribbean' star has urged people to make a 'vow' to themselves to fight against racism.

The 56-year-old actor posted a message to his Instagram on Thursday that was coupled with a video of rapper Killer Mike delivering an emotional speech at the Mayor's office in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, as protests and riots were escalating in that city.

In his caption, Depp spoke about the agonizing details of Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, Minnesota last month, and he also addressed the larger issues of police brutality and systemic racism.

He wrote: "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. 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!!!!"

He continued: "My dear friend and brother, Killer Mike - (Run The Jewels), is a brilliant musician, artist, activist for social justice and the son of an Atlanta Policeman. He is also, one of the kindest, most caring and loving human beings that I've ever had the pleasure and honour 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. With All Love, JD. (sic)"

The actor slammed the 'grotesque illustration of the abuse of power' after Floyd was murdered by a police officer.

He added: "As the majority of American people, our global community and our extended family of humans helplessly watched a man die on television ... I, too, was exposed to the atrocity of blatant barbarism, ruthless cruelty and unmitigated lack of humanity. 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? 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!!! (sic)"

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