Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Michael B. Jordan Speak Out Over Police Shooting Of Daunte Wright
Almost a year since George Floyd died in Minneapolis, social justice protesters have taken to the streets of Minnesota again, this time following the death of another Black man involving a police officer.
On Sunday, 20-year-old father-of-one Daunte Wright was shot after being pulled over for an alleged traffic violation while driving with his girlfriend.
In a police briefing on Monday evening, Minnesota Police Chief Tim Gannon said he believed the officer who shot Wright had 'the intention' to fire a taser but instead fired a gun. The officer, 26-year-old Kim Potter, is on 'administrative leave'.
Body camera footage was also shown to reporters at the press conference, showing a struggle with Wright and an officer, before Wright breaks free and gets back into the car and the officer, Potter shouts 'I'll tase you, Taser, taser, taser' at him pointing a weapon. A shot is fired, the car then drives off and the female voice is heard saying: 'I just shot him.' According to the New York Times, Wright drove and crashed into another car several streets away. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Monday, the Minneapolis Medical Examiner released a report, ruling Wright's death as a 'homicide', determining his passing as a result of one shot to the chest.
'It appears to me from what I viewed and the officer's reaction and distress after that this was an accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr Wright,' Gannon told reporters, adding that a criminal investigation is underway.
Katie Wright, mother of Daunte Wright, 20, describes the phone call with her son as he was pulled over. @kare11 pic.twitter.com/3lz5jncTuc
— Chris Hrapsky (@ChrisHrapsky) April 12, 2021
His distraught mother, Katie Wright, also spoke to reporters on Monday saying her son had called her when he was pulled over.
The police press conference did not serve to quell the anger mounting in the state over another Black man's death at the hands of the police. The state is still reacting to Floyds' death, which is currently the subject of a criminal trial involving the police officer who was filmed kneeling on Floyd's death for eight minutes, Derek Chauvin.
Protesters calling for justice took to the streets for a second night running in Minnesota on Monday, with some coming face to face with police officers as they defied curfew orders announced by the mayor earlier in the day. Vigils and protests took place in other US cities such as Seattle, New York City and Los Angeles.
High-profile politicians and celebrities have since been sharing their thoughts on Wright's death, angry that another Black person has died during an incident with the police, and the systemic racism within the police, legal systems and politics that paved the way for the deaths of Wright, Floyd, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and more.
Remember their names:
Daunte Wright
George Floyd
Sandra Bland
Samuel DuBose
Michael Brown
Walter Scott
Eric Garner
Richard Tyson
Dijon Kizzee
Noel Aguilar
Christian Cobian
Laquan McDonald
Freddie Gray
Jamar Clark
Alton Sterling
Philando Castile
Stephon Clark— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) April 12, 2021
Below are some of the most compelling and powerful reactions in response to the horrendous news:
Beyoncé
Michael B. Jordan
The actor shared a post from fellow actor, Viola Davis.
Kerry Washington
#DaunteWright should still be alive. My heart goes out to his family, his friends. And to all Black people who are tired of waking up to tragedy after tragedy.❤️🙏🏾
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 12, 2021
Regina King
Now I’m seeing this! Here we are saying prayers for ANOTHER family because ANOTHER reckless officer exposed themself at the expense of ANOTHER Black human being. I’m so sorry Daunte Wright 💔 You are so much more than...ANOTHER. I will NEVER get used to this https://t.co/VKStCKpzNo
— Regina King (@ReginaKing) April 13, 2021
Kim Kardashian
President Joe Biden
Today I’m thinking about Daunte Wright and his family — and the pain, anger, and trauma that Black America experiences every day. While we await a full investigation, we know what we need to do to move forward: rebuild trust and ensure accountability so no one is above the law.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2021
Vice President Kamala Harris
Prayers are not enough. Daunte Wright should still be with us. While an investigation is underway, our nation needs justice and healing, and Daunte’s family needs to know why their child is dead—they deserve answers.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 13, 2021
Black Lives Matter
There are no accidents in police terror and white supremacy.
Say his name.#DaunteWright— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) April 12, 2021
The NAACP
-We don’t want the hashtag.
-Don’t want to wait an hear an explanation after all the facts come out.
-We are tired of offering thoughts and prayers in response to thoughtless law enforcement.
We want to make it home. We want our families to make it home.#DaunteWright https://t.co/AJzhqoZEbl— NAACP (@NAACP) April 12, 2021
Bernice King (daughter of Martin Luther King Jr)
My heart goes out to Daunte Wright’s mother. I mourn that she’ll never see her son again...that his name is now a hashtag.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 12, 2021
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
We are sick and heartbroken.
In the closing days of Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, Brooklyn Center police killed 20 year old Daunte Wright, another Black man, during a traffic stop.
This violence is a basic part of police interactions with communities of color. It must stop. pic.twitter.com/bCqp3xRnT8— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 12, 2021
Jamie Foxx
Mayim Bialik
There are no accidents in police terror and white supremacy.
Say his name.#DaunteWright @Blklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/Jd6ntdldFS— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) April 13, 2021
Common
We cannot get comfortable! May God bless the soul of Daunte Wright. pic.twitter.com/dat8iwF5u0
— COMMON (@common) April 13, 2021
Trevor Noah
More on Daunte Wright’s death and Caron Nazario’s violent traffic stop: https://t.co/rTaRiZBlAr pic.twitter.com/rCGGRYUFei
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) April 13, 2021
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Daunte Wright should still be alive today. Our hearts ache for his family & for the Minneapolis community currently seeking justice for George Floyd.
This epidemic of injustice cannot continue.
The George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing Act passed by the House must become law.— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 12, 2021
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