Questlove, Drake, Larry Wilmore, and others expressed their outrage.
Following the death of two black men at the hands of police, social media has become a sounding board for many celebrities who are grieving and expressing outrage.
In the aftermath of Alton Sterling’s death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuesday night, Drake wrote a letter to the victim’s family.
“No one begins their life as a hashtag. Yet the trend of being reduced to one continues,” the Canadian rapper wrote.
He posted the letter on Instagram.
Questlove of The Roots was at a loss for words following the death of Sterling. Posting the graphic video of the shooting, with the caption: “I'm just numb. And tired. And f***ing angry. And scared. And mad. And boiling. And really really really really really tired of turning our collective bruised cheek. Just. F***ing. Tired.”
Read: Alton Sterling's Son Breaks Down as Family Addresses Fatal Police Shooting Outrage
On Thursday morning, following the news of Philando Castile’s death in Minnesota, he posted a photo that read: “Don’t Forget to Set Your Clocks Back 300 Years Tonight.”
On Wednesday night’s The Nightly Show, host Larry Wilmore said of the Sterling shooting: “The punishment for being a black man shouldn’t be death.”
Wilmore added: "We’ve covered this type of thing in the past, and to be frank with you, we’re just tired of this s*** happening. Thank God for f***ing cell phones."
Speaking from Poland, U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday the shootings affect not just the black community, but society as a whole.
"When people say 'black lives matter,' it doesn't mean that blue lives don't matter," Obama said, referring to police officers. "But right now, the data shows that black folks are more vulnerable to these kinds of incidents."
Spike Lee, whose film Do the Right Thing famously portrayed the death of a black man at the hands of police, took to Instagram to post that Sterling, like all black men, are targets for police.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, singer John Legend vented his anger at what happened to Castile.
We should not have to jump through hoops to prove black people shouldn't be shot by police during routine traffic stops.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016
So many people work so hard to find a reason why executing a human being during a routine traffic stop is ok. IT'S NOT OK
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016
Emcee Chance the Rapper was shellshocked in his Twitter post that Castile was killed while his soon-to-be 4-year-old step-daughter was in the backseat.
These guys murdered this man with his 4 year old daughter in the backseat? Is there any situation where police get arrested? Or convicted?
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) July 7, 2016
Rapper Chuck D posted a drawing he did of a police officer, calling cops “The New Grim Reaper” following the deaths of Sterling and Castile.
I had to draw this quick before I slept ... USA FOP NRA 'The New Grim Reaper?' pic.twitter.com/e8T7du23tJ
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 7, 2016
Singer Missy Elliot posted on Twitter:
Tossed & turned in my sleep last night just so sad, & it's frustrating SMH #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 7, 2016
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took to Twitter Thursday morning to share her thoughts:
America woke up to yet another tragedy of a life cut down too soon. Black Lives Matter. #PhilandoCastile -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
Watch: Alton Sterling's Son Breaks Down as Family Addresses Fatal Police Shooting Outrage
