Jay-z and Roc Nation have taken out full-page newspaper ads across the nation in memory of George Floyd.
What We Know:
- George Floyd was killed on May 25th by a Minneapolis police officer kneenling on the back of his neck after being arrested for trying to use a counterfeit 20 dollar bill.
- The ad appeared in major written news publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Denver Post and others.
- The philanthropic arm of Roc Nation, Team ROC, partnered with the families of George Floyd and others who have lost loved ones to police violence.
- The ad was signed by Jay-Z, 50, as well as several advocacy organizations such as The Innocence Project, Until Freedom and the Woman Global Initiative. George Floyd’s attorneys and the parents of Botham Jean, DJ Henry, and Antwon Rose II, three black men that were killed by the police, signed it as well.
- “In dedication to George Floyd,” Roc Nation captioned the note on social media, alongside the hashtags “#BlackLivesMatter” and “#JusticeforGeorgeFloyd”.
- The ad comes just days after Jay-Z spoke about Floyd’s death in a phone call with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He confirmed the details in a statement released by Roc Nation’s Instagram on Sunday.
“This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have. I prevail on every politician, prosecutor and office 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,” he added.
