Drake doesn't speak publicly about many social issues, but he felt compelled Wednesday, July 6, to respond to the shooting death of 37-year old Alton Sterling by a Baton Rouge, Louisiana police officer.
The "One Dance" hit maker penned an open letter and posted it on his Instagram page.
I am grateful to be able to call America my second home. Last night when I saw the video of Alton Sterling being killed, it left me feeling disheartened, emotional and truly scared. I woke up this morning with a strong need to say something. It's impossible to ignore that the relationship between Black and brown communities and law enforcement remains as strained as it was decades ago. No one begins their life as a hashtag. Yet the trend of being reduced to one continues.
This is real and I'm concerned. Concerned for the safety of my family, my friends, and any human being that could fall victim to this pattern. I do not know the answer. But I believe things can change for the better. Open and honest dialogue is the first step. My thoughts and prayers are with the Sterling family and anyone that has lost someone to this cycle of violence.
Be safe out there. More life.
As we previously reported, Sterling was shot 6-7 times in the neck and back on Tuesday, July 5, by one of two police officers who were responding to a call of a black male wearing a red shirt threatening someone with a gun, in front of a convenience store.
Things quickly spiraled out of control when Sterling was confronted. One of the officers tackled him to the ground. While both cops held him down, he was tasered.
After yelling that the downed man had a gun, one of the cops pulled out his own weapon before firing the fatal shots.
Sterling did have a gun in his pocket, but the store owner, Abdul Muflahi, who witnessed the shooting told various news outlets that he didn't reach for it.
He added that he saw cops remove the weapon from the dead man's pocket after shooting him.
The U.S. Justice Department is leading a civil rights investigation into the case.
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