Cole Sprouse was one of the many celebrities who took to the streets to join the Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Monica following George Floyd’s death.
On Monday (June 1), he went on Instagram to share his experience.
“A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica. So before the voracious horde of media sensationalism decides to somehow turn it about me, there’s a clear need to speak about the circumstances: Black Lives Matter,” Cole wrote on Instagram. “Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. the media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda. I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested.”
“When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement,” he continued. “This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such. This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing. This is precisely the time to contemplate what it means to stand as an ally. I hope others in my position do as well.”
“I noticed that there are cameras that roll within the police cruisers during the entirety of our detainment, hope it helps. I’ll speak no more on the subject, as I’m (1) not well versed enough to do so, (2) not the subject of the movement, and (3) uninterested in drawing attention away from the leaders of the #BLM movement. I will be, again, posting the link in my story to a comprehensive document for donations and support,” Cole concluded.
George Floyd, a 46-year-old man residing in Minneapolis, died on Monday (May 25) after a police officer kept him restrained on the ground with a knee on his neck for seven minutes. According to CBS News, four officers have since been fired and the police officer who was videotaped holding him down by the neck was taken into custody and has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Other stars were spotted out at the Santa Monica protest over the weekend, including Halsey and Yungblud.
On Monday (June 1), Halsey took to Instagram to share a slideshow of photos and videos from the protest – one of the photos shows her treating a man from injuries.
“These pictures and videos don’t even scratch the surface,” she wrote. “It’s easy from the comfort of your home to watch looting and rioting on television and condone the violent measures being taken by forces. But what you don’t see is innocent peaceful protestors being shot at and tear gassed and physically assaulted relentlessly. You think it’s not happening, it’s only the ‘thugs’ and the ‘riots’, right? The police are keeping you safe right? You’re wrong.”
“This is happening everywhere,” she continued. “And innocent people exercising their rights to speech and assembly are facing violence and abuse of power. With all of our medical professionals being CONSUMED and EXHAUSTED with Covid, there is little to no medical attention available. I have first hand treated men women and children who have been shot in the chest, the face, the back. Some will lose vision some have lost fingers. I have been covered in innocent blood.”
Halsey also talked about her roots – her dad is black and her mom is an EMT. But she never imagined she would have to “put those two associations together in ways that have horrified me.”
She also tweeted updates, assuring fans that she was safe and was not arrested. She also cautioned about the dangers of the rubber bullets which were being used on protesters.
“do not underplay these rubber bullets bc you have been told they are “not lethal”. I had to bandage a man who looked like his entire face had exploded today. So before you say, from the comfort of your home, that we’re exaggerating, please consider the injuries some have suffered,” she wrote.
She also gave a shoutout to Yungblud, whom she says braved the line of fire in order to be able to bring the injured to safety.
“And a big personal thank you to @yungblud who literally ran exposed in front of rounds being shot to drag wounded people to safety without even thinking twice,” she tweeted.
Several other stars have also joined protests in their areas over the weekend – including Ariana Grande, Machine Gun Kelly, Emily Ratajkoswski, Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, Paris Jackson and Nich Cannon.
