JAY-Z Begs AG To Prosecute All Officers Involved In George Floyd’s Death With Powerful Message

In a new statement about George Floyd's death, JAY-Z vowed to 'fight for justice' and asked the attorney general for the prosecution of ALL of the officers involved in the killing.

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June 1, 2020 7:54AM EDT
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A person walks past a graffito showing late George Floyd, in Berlin, Germany, 30 May 2020. A bystander's video posted online on 25 May, appeared to show George Floyd, 46, pleading with arresting officers that he couldn't breathe as an officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The unarmed black man later died in police custody. A series of demonstrations throughout the German capital, calling for ending of the social and economical restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The events are organised by groups of various motives, right wing activists, conspiracy theory believers and more, several counter demonstrations by left leaning organisations were also taking place. Anti-restrictions protests and counter demos in Berlin, Germany - 30 May 2020
Mayor Bill de Blasio, third from left, participates in painting Black Lives Matter on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower, in New York. The mayor's wife, Chirlane McCray, is fourth from left and Rev. Al Sharpton is second from left Racial Injustice , New York, United States - 09 Jul 2020
People pose with a new Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York. Black Lives Matter mural, New York, USA - 09 Jul 2020

Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, revealed on May 31 that he had received a call from JAY-Z regarding the killing of George Floyd on May 25. After the conversation, Walz called in the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, to handle the prosecutions related to George’s death going forward. On the evening of May 31, JAY-Z took to social media to break his silence on the phone call, and publicly call for justice to be served.

So far, one police officer, Derek Chauvin, has been arrested and charged with third degree murder and second degree manslaughter in George’s death. However, many people, including JAY-Z, are calling for three other officers who were present at the scene of George’s killing (Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane) to also be prosecuted. JAY-Z referenced this request in his public statement.

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“I, along with an entire country, call upon AG Ellison to do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd to the fullest extent of the law,” Jay wrote. “This is just a first step. I am more determined than ever for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have. I prevail on every politician, prosecutor and officer in the country to have the courage to do what is right. Have the courage to look at us as humans, dads, brothers, sisters and mothers in pain. And look at yourselves.”

Video from George’s arrest shows Chauvin keeping his knee on the side of George’s neck as George screamed out, “I can’t breathe.” The criminal complaint revealed that Chauvin had his knee on George’s neck for nearly nine minutes. During the arrest, Officer Kueng reportedly held George’s back, while Lane held his legs and Thao looked on from nearby. The horrifying video has gone viral online.

Following George’s death, protests began in Minneapolis on May 26, and became more widespread throughout the week and over the weekend. Celebrities like Ariana Grande, Halsey, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and more have all taken part in protests in their respective cities. Meanwhile, stars like Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Beyonce, Justin Bieber and hundreds of others have expressed their outrage on social media, and are continuing to beg for change.