Meghan Markle has finally spoken up about the death of George Floyd, calling it an “absolutely devastating” news.
Meghan Markle, speaking in a video to the graduating class of her former high school, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles spoke against racism and expressed how saddened she feels that nothing has changed over the years.
She said she was “nervous” about speaking out over the issue, but added: “The only wrong thing to say is to say nothing”.
Meghan Markle said: “I wasn’t sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that it would get picked apart.
“And I realised the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing. Because George Floyd’s life mattered and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered… and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know.”
The 38-year-old former actress, who attended the school from the age of 11 to 18, said: “I was 11 or 12 years old and it was the LA Riots, which was also triggered by senseless act of racism. I remember the curfew and I remember rushing back home and on that drive home, seeing ash fall from the sky and smelling the smoke and seeing the smoke billow out of buildings.
“I remember seeing men in the back of a van just holding guns and rifles. I remember pulling up the house and seeing the tree, that had always been there, completely charred. And those memories don’t go away.”
She added that students should have an understanding of that “as a history lesson, not as a reality”.
“I am sorry in a way that we have not gotten the world to a place where you deserve it to be,” she added.
Meghan then encouraged the students to be “part of a movement” of hope, adding that she remembers how people “came together” during those times.
“We’re seeing that right now, from the sheriff in Michigan or the police chief in Virginia. We’re seeing people stand in solidarity, we are seeing communities come together and to uplift.
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“And you are going to be part of this movement.” She added.