Alton Sterling Killed by Police: Amy Schumer, Zendaya, Chuck D & Others React

Yet another police-related killing caught on tape — the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge on July 5 — has spurred a strong reaction from celebrities speaking out against police brutality and its impact on black Americans. The comments from the likes of gun legislation advocate/comedian Amy Schumer and comedian Kumail Nanjiani offer their support and love for the people of Baton Rouge and the Black Lives Matter movement. Meanwhile, a number of artists have called for action and condemnation for what appears to be yet another deadly show of force by a police department on a black man.

Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black)

#AltonSterling. Say his name.

— Samira Wiley (@samirawiley) July 6, 2016

Amy Schumer

Love to Louisiana #AltonSterling

— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 6, 2016

Zendaya

How many more times must this happen for us to matter? How many more must we lose?
BLACK. LIVES. MATTER. #AltonSterling

— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 6, 2016

Nick Jonas

This is so disturbing and wrong. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of #AltonSterling

— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) July 6, 2016

 

Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley)

#AltonSterling #BlackLivesMattter

— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) July 6, 2016

Meek Mill

 

Executed this man about selling bootleg DVDs! Smh it’s only gone get worst! They don’t care about us!

A video posted by Meek Mill (@meekmill) on Jul 5, 2016 at 11:21pm PDT

Bridget Kelly

That #AltonSterling video just brought me to tears. I can’t even wrap my head around it.

— Bridget Kelly (@IamBridgetKelly) July 6, 2016

Chuck D

Selling…………..cds? W…….T…..F????? This cop was deranged and KNEW he was gonna DO this one day-it was a matter of when AND who

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 6, 2016

IF anything THIS proves why the term #BlackLivesMatter is the CRYOUT to the rest of the Planet Earth from this United States Of America.

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 6, 2016

Best Coast

I just can’t — #AltonSterling #BlackLivesMatter

— Best Coast (@BestCoast) July 6, 2016

 

Bruno Mars

“They Murdered that man. We just saw it.” Thank you @Rosenbergradio https://t.co/PyDmLY52ld

— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) July 6, 2016

 

Hayley Williams (Paramore)

Praying for justice & peace in #AltonSterling case. Leadership roles(i.e. police) MUST require real accountability. The pattern MUST change–

— hayley from Paramore (@yelyahwilliams) July 6, 2016

 

Xzibit

Angry tweets, marching, protesting,none of that shit works. We have to speak economically. We generate BILLIONS, and retain none of it.

— XZIBIT (@xzibit) July 6, 2016

MC Hammer

This barbaric behavior under the guise of law is despicable, inhumane and heartbreaking. Justice for #AltonSterling https://t.co/PgG76xSk5t

— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) July 6, 2016

Christina Perri

heartbroken for #altonsterling and his family —

— christina perri (@christinaperri) July 6, 2016

Talib Kweli

RT @syndicalisms: #AltonSterling is the 558th person in the US murdered extrajudicially by cops in 2016 alone. https://t.co/K5aH5YNYbq

— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 6, 2016

DL Hughley

You ever notice how video used against suspects tells the whole story, but used against cops it doesn’t #AltonSterling #TeamDl

— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) July 6, 2016

 

Justin Timberlake

#AltonSterling

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 6, 2016

Amen. https://t.co/5CIMR243EJ

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 6, 2016

HAS. TO. STOP. Devastating. https://t.co/C9Q0YePRMr

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 6, 2016

Janelle Monae

 

Although I am a black young woman I AM #AltonSterling. Just like Alton I used to sell my CDs outside records, library steps, street corners, etc. My first cousin’s name is Alton. What happened to Alton just reiterates that WE are not truly free. WE are not safe. WE need protection from hunters who hide behind badges. And until every human being, no matter what race you are, realizes this is also your problem and also your job to protect US from murderers like these officers we will never be free. We will always look at you like the enemy. What happened to Alton happens over and over again around this country. We are tired. Tired of IG ING, tweeting, FBooking “RIP” and posting videos of MURDER and shit not change. What these murderers in uniform did should warrant immediate arrest. It’s clear what happened. This man could not even reach a gun if there was one. Video shows that. Someone screams “he has a gun!” and so u kill him? He resisted arrest so that means shoot to KILL HIM?! Any excuse one gives to these cowards with badges will continue to play a part in our extinction. Blood on your hands as well. My heart is mad, heavy, and cries for his family and loved ones . I’m so fucking irate right now but clearl minded and moved enough to continue to speak out and help this man and many others seek Justice. #HYTB

A photo posted by Janelle Monáe (@janellemonae) on Jul 6, 2016 at 10:41am PDT

 

Katy Perry

You can’t just go on with your day, you must watch this & we must face this continual outrageousness #ALTONSTERLING https://t.co/NqW3aVSZ1j

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 6, 2016

?According to CNN, the president of the Baton Rouge NAACP branch called for the city’s police chief and chief executive to resign in light of Tuesday’s shooting death of Sterling, a black man who was seen in a video being pinned to the ground and shot after he allegedly got into an altercation with the officers. Police said they arrived on the scene early Tuesday, responding to an anonymous 911 call about a man threatening him with a gun; a preliminary autopsy found that Sterling died as a result of “multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and back.” 

Sterling was known in the area as the “CD man,” someone his attorney said was a beloved, gentle member of the community known for selling songs and DVDs outside of the store where he was shot. The store’s owner told WAFB TV that the first officer used a stun gun on Sterling and a second one tackled him, with Sterling fighting to get the second officer off him as the first one shot four to six times. The owner said he didn’t see a gun in Sterling’s hand when one of the officers yelled “he’s got a gun,” but that he did see officers remove a weapon from Sterling’s pocked after the shooting.

Following protest over the killing on Tuesday, more demonstrations are expected on Wednesday (July 6). The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave and have not yet been identified publicly. The Associated Press reported that that officials and family members have called for a federal investigation into Sterling’s death, saying they don’t trust local law enforcement to handle the probe. “It’s a horrible thing, it’s a horrible thing to happened to him… he didn’t deserve that,” said Sterling’s aunt, Sandra Sterling.

Some other tweets under the #AltonSterling hashtag:

If you don’t take issue with this then you are part of the problem #AltonSterling pic.twitter.com/wzwNi2UuOk

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 6, 2016

Bless the courageous people who point cameras at violence. #AltonSterling

— Jesse Thorn (@JesseThorn) July 6, 2016