The tragedy of George Floyd‘s murder and the dark truth it reveals about the profound racism that continues to plague our country is haunting and infuriating — and celebrities are speaking out. One of the latest powerful voices to mourn this tragedy — not to mention so many others — is Michelle Obama, who took to social media to compose her thoughts and express her feelings about “a heartbreak that never seems to stop.”
Like so many of you, I’m pained by these recent tragedies. And I’m exhausted by a heartbreak that never seems to stop. Right now it’s George, Breonna, and Ahmaud. Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on. pic.twitter.com/lFWEtTzVT8
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020
In a series of tweets late yesterday, the former first lady wrote, “Like so many of you, I’m pained by these recent tragedies,” and referenced not just George Floyd, but also Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. “Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael,” she continued. “It just goes on, and on, and on.”
It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020
In her following tweets, Obama stressed that we all must take action, writing, “It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own.”
It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020
The former first lady closed her remarks with a call for justice, compassion, and empathy.
It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 29, 2020
Earlier, Barack Obama, her husband and 44th president of the United States, released his own statement — and, no surprise, seemed to find the exact right words to express what so many of us are feeling: “This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America. It can’t be ‘normal.”
My statement on the death of George Floyd: pic.twitter.com/Hg1k9JHT6R
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 29, 2020
In addition to the Obamas, a growing number of influential figures, including Gabrielle Union, Kamala Harris, and Taylor Swift, are urging us all to fight for an anti-racist world. Let’s listen — and act.
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