K-pop superstars BTS have backed the Black Lives Matter anti-racism protests that have erupted in the U.S. and across the world since the death of George Floyd last week (May 31, 2020).
Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minnesota, Minneapolis, after an officer, knelt on the unarmed African-American man’s neck and three others stood by has sparked more than a week of protests and civil unrest in America, with the demonstrations now spreading to Europe and beyond.
On Twitter, the South Korean group stated their support for the Black Lives Matter movement – telling fans they are determined to take a stand against racism.
우리는 인종차별에 반대합니다.
우리는 폭력에 반대합니다.
나, 당신, 우리 모두는 존중받을 권리가 있습니다. 함께 하겠습니다.We stand against racial discrimination.
We condemn violence.
You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.#BlackLivesMatter— 방탄소년단 (@BTS_twt) June 4, 2020
the tweet posted by members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook on their official account reads.
In London on Wednesday, the protests were led by John Boyega, who gave an impassioned speech to crowds in Hyde Park, meanwhile leading names in the music industry all backed the Black Lives Matter cause by staging a day-long blackout on social media on Tuesday.
All four officers who were present when Floyd was killed have now been charged with offenses, with a charge against Derek Chauvin, the now ex-police officer filmed kneeling on his neck, elevated from third to second-degree murder on Wednesday.
The other three officers, who initially went uncharged but were dismissed from the force, now face counts of aiding and abetting murder.