Across the United States and the world, protests fighting for Black lives burst across the globe after George Floyd was murdered by three police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Celebrities have used their social media platform to show their support as well as being spotted marching the streets of their towns to defend Black lives.
Alongside Yungblud, Elijah Daniel, and Harry Styles, pop artist Halsey was at the forefront of the Los Angeles marches to stand up against Black lives being racially profiled and killed by the police. Halsey, armed with first aid kits to protect herself and other protestors, experienced the fear caused by the police as she marched and shielded Black protestors.
Aside from fighting injustice at the ground level, Halsey demanded justice and reform online by retweeting videos, supporting Black and protestors’ voices, and sharing news and educating posts for her followers to read since the day Floyd was killed. She even shares posts to support Black artists and businesspeople. Her Twitter exhibits articles to educate her followers on issues such as police violence, systemic racism, and racism in the medical field.
A 2016 survey of 222 white medical students reported that half of them believed the myth that black patients “feel less pain” than white patients, and were less likely to recommend appropriate care. 2016! That’s why it’s fuck those racist med students!!! https://t.co/1PJJjmJymE
— h (@halsey) June 4, 2020
Broadcasted to millions of followers, her social media captures police brutality towards protestors and African Americans. She even discussed giving medical assistance to the homeless who have sustained severe facial injuries from police violence towards those “who ‘look homeless.’” Live-streamed on her Instagram, she stood peacefully face-to-face with police in riot gear who are about to arrest, throw tear gas at, and shoot rubber bullets at protestors.
ive given med assist to many homeless Angelenos bc of police this week & seems they aim for the face frequently w people who “look homeless”. one man had such bad bruising behind his ear it broke me to tell him he likely had a fractured skull. he had nowhere to go. This is evil. https://t.co/5pQzxjitbM
— h (@halsey) June 5, 2020
Halsey highlighted on Instagram the police violence towards peaceful protestors she experienced first-hand. It was not a cry for sympathy; she felt the need to show what she witnessed with her own eyes. Her post included videos and photographs of the LAPD violence with the caption, “It’s only the ‘thugs’ and the ‘riots,’ right? You’re wrong…innocent people exercising their rights to speech and assembly are facing violence and abuse of power.”
In the same Instagram post, she admitted to aiding men, women, and children who had been shot by police who may lose eyesight or limbs from their injuries. She wrote, “I have been covered in innocent blood.”
Halsey announced donations to organizations including NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Minnesota Freedom Fund, urging her fans and followers to do the same. Publicly, she has donated $100,000 to supporting organizations. She has been a voice and an ally towards the Movement, and fans praised Halsey for her outspoken actions. She understands her privilege, the importance of being an ally, and speaking out both in marches and online — and she expects the same high standard from other people with a platform. A change needs to be made to America’s legal system, and Halsey unapologetically captures the history occurring in the world right now by using her voice and being an ally.