Halsey joins protests over George Floyd’s death, hit by rubber bullets from police
Halsey, left, and police at protest over George Floyd’s death in Los Angeles, United States. Images: Twitter/@halsey
Singer-songwriter Halsey was hit by rubber bullets and shrapnel when she joined crowds in Los Angeles, United States yesterday, May 30, to protest the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, an Africa-American man, died handcuffed and pleading for air while police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck. Chauvin arrested Floyd on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill at a grocery store in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Halsey wore a face mask while holding a sign that said “Black Lives Matter” at the protest, Entertainment Tonight reported yesterday. Black Lives Matter is an activist movement that campaigns against violence and racism towards black people, according to Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc.’s website.
Aside from Halsey, her fellow singer Yungblud also joined the protest, which they both live-streamed on their Instagram pages at the time. The day after, Halsey revealed that police officers at the demonstration had fired rubber bullets at her and her fellow protesters.
She posted photos of the policemen on her Instagram Stories earlier today, May 31, stressing that she and the other civilians were not provoking the officers.
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Image: Instagram/@iamhalsey
“[M]ost of us were simply begging them to have empathy. [T]o reconsider. [T]o consider humanity and our [nation’s] history and future,” Halsey added.
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Image: Instagram/@iamhalsey
Despite their pleas, Halsey stated that the police “opened fire multiple times.” The singer also revealed that she had been hit by the rubber pellets and shrapnel during the encounter with the officers.
“We were gassed repeatedly for hours,” she added.
Image: Instagram/@iamhalsey
Other protests over Floyd’s death in other cities in the U.S. have resulted in police cars being set on fire and reports of injuries. Despite the possibility of getting hurt again, Halsey stressed that she has no plans of keeping away from them.
“The frontline did not relent,” she said. “I will be returning.”
Image: Instagram/@iamhalsey
Prior to joining the protest, Halsey has donated to various organizations that campaign against racism, combat the Minneapolis police union, and pay jail bonds for “those who cannot afford to fight discriminatory and coercive jailing.” She shared the groups on her Twitter page, while urging her fans to also donate to them.
Please look at this thread. My initial contributions are $100,000 to the various organizations I have included. I encourage you and my peers to contribute whatever you can. Every amount counts!!!!! https://t.co/8GqkM50viT
— h (@halsey) May 28, 2020
The singer has donated an initial amount of $100,000 (over P5 million) to the said organizations, as of May 29. Ryan Arcadio/JB
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