(Image: Instagram/Beyonce)
More than ever before, the continuous tragedies of losing black lives in America can no longer be ignored – nor continue.
After a praise-worthy and necessary speech at the BET Awards on #blacklivesmatter by actor Jesse Williams, Queen Bey has now taken her dance moves and lyrics from Formation and channelled them into a perfectly constructed open letter, which she posted to her website. In her letter, Bey calls for action in response to the increasing police brutality, as well as the most recent deaths ofAlton Sterling and Philando Castile.
(Image: Instagram/Beyonce)
“We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities. It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they stop killing. We don’t need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives. We’re going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violet action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished,” she wrote.
“These robberies of lives make us feel helpless and hopeless, but we have to believe that we are fighting for the rights of the next generation, for the next young men and women who believe in good. This is a human fight. No matter your race, gender or sexual orientation. This is a fight for anyone who feels marginalised, who is struggling for freedom and human rights. This is not a plea to all police officers but towards any human being who fails to value life.
“The war on people of colour and all minorities needs to be over. Fear is not an excuse. Hate will not win. We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action. We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes. 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 ended her letter by asking people to click on the post to contact politicians and legislators in their area. “Your voice will be heard,” she writes.
The songstress – who is currently on her Formation world tour – also stopped her Glasgow show to have a moment of silence in respect of those who have lost their lives due to police brutality. During her moment of silence, a projection appeared behind her with the names of the victims, including Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Freddie Gray, and she had the moment end with the words “and countless others”.
Beyoncé performando Freedom acapella em homenagem às vítimas da brutalidade policial ✊ #FormationWorldTour #Glasgow pic.twitter.com/M5R27dYb65
— Beyoncé Always (@beyoncealways) July 7, 2016