After two black men were shot by cops within 48 hours in the US, violent protests over increasing racism in the country have erupted. The trouble started when two videos surfaced on the internet, one on Tuesday, and the other on Wednesday, depicting white American cops shooting down black men in two separate incidents.
The first was the shooting of Alton Sterling in Louisiana, and the the second was of Philando Castile in Minnesota.
The incidents have sparked massive reactions from all across the country, from the political leaders to pop stars taking to social media to convey their condolences, observations and criticisms. Here are some of the most imapactful messages from social media:
US President Barrack Obama expressed his condolence with a powerful message
Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted her dismay
America woke up to yet another tragedy of a life cut down too soon. Black Lives Matter. #PhilandoCastile -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
She also released a statement on the shootings
“Too many African American families mourn the loss of a loved one from a police-involved incident. Something is profoundly wrong when so many Americans have reason to believe that our country doesn’t consider them as precious as others because of the color of their skin.”
Bernie Sanders posted this powerful message on Twitter
The struggle for our rights is not the struggle of a day, or a year. It is a struggle that must be fought by every generation.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 7, 2016
Your constitutional rights don’t depend on your race, gender, religion, sexuality or income. I can’t believe we still need to say that.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 7, 2016
Senator Elizabeth Warren posted a long message on Facebook
Pop star Nicki Minaj listed all the black deaths that went unpunished
Rapper Drake also took to Instagram and posted a heartfelt message
Singer Katy Perry tweeted her outrage
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
Actor Olivia Wilde posted her grievances
He had a right to sell CDs, and a right to due process, but he he was shot for being a black man. Don’t rationalize murder. #AltonSterling
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 6, 2016
Musician Justin Timberlake also posted on Twitter
Couldn’t even sleep last night… First, #AltonSterling and then this video of #PhilandoCastile being brutally killed. This. Must. Stop.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 7, 2016
As did actress Rashida Jones
#AltonSterling Please. No more. This must stop.
— Rashida Jones (@iamrashidajones) July 6, 2016
Musician Macklemore expressed his grief
How many more murders of black people by police before we hold our system and those that enforce… https://t.co/qMZ1F7cEC1
— Macklemore (@macklemore) July 6, 2016
Sportswoman Serena Williams posted this long message on Twitter
In London I have to wake up to this. He was black. Shot 4 times? When will something be done- no REALLY be done?!?! pic.twitter.com/OaLn60G6nm
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 7, 2016
Spike Lee posted this angry tweet
These Cops Gonna Walk Free Too??? https://t.co/MC9wALdZS1
— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) July 7, 2016
Actress Susan Sarandon also expressed concern
This is not acceptable. One more life taken. One more family heartbroken. Another fatherless child. Accountability. #PhilandoCastile
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) July 7, 2016
Tech giants weren’t far behind in expressing their outrage and sympathies as well, though many have claimed the combined reaction was too understated:
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey retweeted musician Beyonce’s post on her website
“We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities.” https://t.co/0096ANKSHd pic.twitter.com/ESctvpwgzR
— Jack (@jack) July 7, 2016
Google also posted this message:
#AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile’s lives mattered. Black lives matter. We need racial justice now. pic.twitter.com/mXTC0zRfqJ
— Google (@google) July 7, 2016
As did Mark Zuckerberg:
Protests followed in Dallas, Texas, after news of the separate shootings spread across America. As hundreds of people attended the protest in Dallas on Thursday night, reports of shots ringing out filled media outlets. As per reports, at least eleven police officers at the protest were shot at by snipers present at the rally. As of now, reports have come in about the death of four cops.
As soon as news of the mass shooting spread, reactions poured in by the minute, with people expressing their grief and condolence at the tragedy, as well concerns over how this incident will impact the issue at hand:
My statement on the #DallasPoliceShooting tonight pic.twitter.com/HBxigakq1h
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) July 8, 2016
Praying for my city. 💔 #Dallas
— JoJo Fletcher (@JoelleFletcher) July 8, 2016
#BlackLivesMatter condemns murder. THAT INCLUDES law enforcement officers. Praying for the families that lost loved ones in Dallas.
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) July 8, 2016
We must not let the actions of a few individuals destroy our faith in society #DallasPoliceShooting pic.twitter.com/5jg12BNZ28
— Jacqueline M.Wood (@JacquelineMWood) July 8, 2016
Government trying to set us up, Black people don’t do MASS shootings that’s not us let alone SNIPE come on now 🙇🏽 #DallasPoliceShooting
— Dante Stanley (@ThatBoyDantee) July 8, 2016
These Dallas shootings are horrific. Killing these officers is morally reprehensible and completely counterproductive to keeping us safe.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 8, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in #Dallas as they face this immeasurable loss tonight.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) July 8, 2016
Just in case the media tries to misconstrue what really happened listen to a real witness in #Dallas pic.twitter.com/BnJIMwniH1
— 7 GOD (@iiBreakNecks) July 8, 2016
And finally, this powerful statement by this man on Twitter sums up the tragedy:
Cops shouldn’t shoot innocent people.
People shouldn’t shoot innocent cops. #Dallas— John Miceli (@JohnMiceli15) July 8, 2016
(Feature Image: Reuters)