Jay-Z calls on Minnesota attorney general to prosecute those responsible for George Floyd’s death
Jay-Z wants justice for George Floyd.
The rapper addressed Floyd's death and the protests taking place around the nation with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
"It was so incredibly human. It wasn't Jay-Z, international celebrity. It was a dad, and I think quite honestly a black man whose visceral pain of this that he knew," Walz told reporters Sunday at a press conference.
"He said he feels the compassion and the humanity of these folks who are speaking in a very difficult environment," Walz continued. "He knows the world is watching -- how Minnesota handles this is going to have an impact across the country."
Following the press conference, the entertainment mogul shared a statement through his entertainment company Roc Nation about his conversation with Walz.
"After our very earnest conversation, thank you to Governor Walz for doing what’s right and calling in Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over the George Floyd case," he wrote.
"Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me — a dad and a black man in pain. YES, I am human, a father and a black man in pain and I am not the only one," Jay-Z continued.
He demanded immediate action by Minnesota officials.
"Now I, along with an entire country in pain, call upon AG Ellison to do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd to the fullest extent of the law," Jay-Z said. "This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have."
"I prevail on every politician, prosecutor and officer in the country to have the courage to do what is right," he went on. "Have the courage to look at us as humans, dads, brothers, sisters and mothers in pain and look at yourselves."
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who put his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd's death.
Prosecutors say the investigation is still ongoing and more arrests and charges are anticipated. In an interview on SiriusXM's "The Joe Madison Show" Monday, Ellison said he is "not prepared to announce anything at this moment."
"I will say that we are going to hold everybody accountable for what they did wrong and what they did that's illegal," the attorney general said.
Read more about the investigation and nationwide protests here.
