Take a stand: Beyonce on killing of black men by cops

The 34-year-old ‘Formation’ singer has spoken out after Philando Castile and Alton Sterling were killed by officers in Minnesota and Louisiana respectively, insisting the issue goes beyond race to encompass “anyone who feels marginalised, who is struggling for freedom and human rights”.

Beyonce urged her fans to contact politicians to “demand” changes, sharing a link of the Louisiana State Legislature website for those wishing to “protest for Alton Sterling,” and the Minnesota State Legislature website for those wanting to “voice protest for Philando Castile.” 

In a statement on her website, she wrote: “We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities. It is upto us to take a stand and demand that they ‘stop killing us.’ “We don’t need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives. 

We’re going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violent action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished. 

“These robberies of lives make us feel helpless and hopeless but we have to believe that we are fighting for the rights of the next generation, for the next young men and women who believe in good.

“No matter your race, gender or sexual orientation. This is a fight for anyone who feels marginalised, who is struggling for freedom and human rights. 

Castile was shot on July 6 during a traffic stop in front of his girlfriend and her child as he reached for his driver’s license, while Sterling lost his life the day before when he was shot outside a convenience store, where he was selling CDs in a parking lot.