Gaga was moved to speak following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed Monday after a Minneapolis police officer continued to press his knee into his neck despite his pleas. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been arrested on a third-degree murder charge, though his fellow arresting officers have only been fired. The police brutality case has ushered in a wave of outrage, with protests taking part across the country.
On Saturday night, Gaga became the latest celebrity to reflect on the case and the issue of racism.
“I have a lot of things to say about this, but the first thing I want to say is I'm afraid to say anything that will incite further anger, although that is precisely the emotion that’s justified,” the Oscar winner wrote. “I do not wish to contribute to more violence, I wish to contribute to a solution. I am as outraged by the death of George Floyd as I have been by the deaths of exponentially too many black lives over hundreds of years that have been taken from us in this country as a result of systemic racism and the corrupt systems that support it.
“The voices of the black community have been silenced for too long and that silence has proven deadly time and time again. And no matter what they do to protest, they are still met with no compassion by the leaders that are meant to protect them. Every day people in America are racist, that’s a fact.
“Right now is a critical time for the black community to be supported by all other communities so we can put a stop to something that is intrinsically wrong by the grace of God or whatever creator you do or do not believe in.”
She then turned to the current administration, echoing Swift’s tweet accusing the president of enabling racism.
“We have known for a long time that President Trump has failed,” she continued. “He holds the most powerful office in the world, yet offers nothing but ignorance and prejudice while black lives continue to be taken. We have known he is a fool, and a racist, since he took office. He is fueling a system that is already rooted in racism, and racist activity, and we can all see what is happening.
“It’s time for a change,” she added. “I urge people to speak gently to each other, speak with passion, inspiration and impress the importance of this issue until the systems that keep us sick die, instead of people we love.
“We MUST show our love for the black community. As a white, privileged woman, I take an oath to stand by that. We haven’t, as a privileged community, done enough to fight racism and stand up for those people who are being killed by it.
“This isn’t justice. This is an epic tragedy that defines our country and has for a long time. I am sad. I am angry. And I will use the words that I can find to try to communicate what needs to change in as an effective and non-violent way as possible for me.”
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Lady Gaga attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Lady Gaga attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Lady Gaga attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
THE OSCARS® - The 91st Oscars® broadcasts live on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood and will be televised live on The ABC Television Network at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST. (Rick Rowell via Getty Images) LADY GAGA
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 06: Lady Gaga attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 06: 76th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: Lady Gaga arrives to the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019. -- (Photo by Christopher Polk/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Lady Gaga attends the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 480595 (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 27: Lady Gaga attends the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Lady Gaga attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation's 3rd Annual Patron Of The Artists Awards at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on November 8, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Artists Inspiration Award recipient Lady Gaga attends the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's 3rd Annual Patron of the Artists Awards at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on November 8, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Lady Gaga attends the UK premiere of 'A Star Is Born' held at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Lady Gaga attends the UK Premiere of 'A Star Is Born' at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Lady Gaga arrives at the Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'A Star Is Born' at The Shrine Auditorium on September 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Lady Gaga attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'A Star Is Born' at The Shrine Auditorium on September 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 13: Lady Gaga attends the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 13, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Critics' Choice Awards)
SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 13: Lady Gaga attends the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 13, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Critics' Choice Awards)
Singer and actress Lady Gaga arrives for the premiere of the film 'A Star is Born' presented out of competition on August 31, 2018 during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP) (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)
Singer and actress Lady Gaga arrives for the premiere of the film 'A Star is Born' presented out of competition on August 31, 2018 during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP) (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 17: Lady Gaga attends The Daily Front Row Fashion LA Awards 2019 on March 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 17: Frederic Aspiras and Lady Gaga attend The Daily Front Row Fashion LA Awards 2019 on March 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Recording artist Lady Gaga attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Recording artist Lady Gaga attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for NARAS)
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The post has so far drawn more than half a million “likes” and many supportive comments, as well as criticism from some followers for singling out Trump. The “Poker Face” singer has long been a vocal critic of the president, famously protesting outside Trump Towers the night of his election victory over Hillary Clinton.
Like Gaga, teen pop star Billie Eilish addressed white privilege in her own statement calling for justice for George Floyd. The “Bad Guy” singer also called out those responding to the protests with “All Lives Matter.”
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