4:34
- culture
- June 19, 2020
John Legend talks nationwide protests and change
He hopes our leaders will make "real fundamental change."
Video by Brittany Berkowitz
Legend, who previously shared messaging on his social media platform urging his followers to defund the police, also shared his thoughts on how to change the system.
\"We've spent too much money and too much of our societal energy on policing people, on locking people up,\" he said. \"Hopefully we'll move from that era into a more safe and healthier era where we really invest in the things that are our communities need to heal and get better.\"
Protesters calling to defund the police want funds diverted away from police budgets and placed into funding community support systems.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by John Legend (@johnlegend) on Jun 2, 2020 at 6:14pm PDT
Legend also discussed his plans for Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States on Friday.
He will compete in a virtual \"piano battle\" with Alicia Keys to celebrate \"the richness of black culture.\" It will air on Verzuz’ Instagram account at 8pm.
\"We call it a battle, but it's really almost like a teaching tool to show people the history of this great black music that we've been making over the years and really celebrate the culture,\" he shared.
View this post on InstagramIt's happening tomorrow. @aliciakeys @verzuztv
A post shared by John Legend (@johnlegend) on Jun 18, 2020 at 2:30pm PDT
\"Alicia and I -- we're good friends, and we've collaborated over the years ... We have a long history together and we both play the piano so thought it would be cool for us to do it,\" he added.
Legend also released his latest album \"Bigger Love\" Friday. He said he felt it was important to release his new music during this time because it's an \"album full of love.\"
\"It's a hopeful album,\" he added. \"Hopefully it'll be inspiring for people and, you know, with all the tough times that this nation is experiencing -- that the world is experiencing -- I felt like people could use it.\"
Video: John Legend says music might not solve the world’s problems but it can inspire hope
Watch: John Legend performs 'Never Break' on 'GMA'
Watch: John Legend performs 'Bigger Love' on 'GMA'
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