Watch John Boyega’s Rousing Black Lives Matter Speech

John Boyega’s voice was cracking, and the words struggled to emerge as he chocked back tears. “I need you guys to understand ...” the Star Wars actor roared into the megaphone, as fellow Black Lives Matters demonstrators laid their hands on his back for support. “I need you to understand how painful this shit is. I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing. That isn’t the case anymore. It was never the case...”

That was the scene at Hyde Park in London, where demonstrators gathered in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement after the suffocation death of handcuffed 46-year-old George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. Boyega went on to speak the names of other people of color who died violent, unjustified deaths—often while in police custody.

“We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd!” Boyega erupted. “We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland! We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin! We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence! For Mark Duggan!”

Boyega, who is known for his joyful upbeat energy on and off set, was visibly enraged, visibly grieving as he spoke to the crowd, his face dripping with sweat and tears. “It’s very, very important that we keep control of this moment and make it as peaceful as possible,” he aded.

“Black people, I love you. I appreciate you. Today is an important day. We’re fighting for our rights. We’re fighting for our ability to live in freedom. We’re fighting for our ability to achieve,” Boyega said. “Let’s show our brothers and sisters around the world that we have their back.”

Then he led the crowd in a chant: “No Justice, No Peace!”

The 28-year-old also acknowledged the risk of speaking out so bluntly. “‘I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but fuck that,” he said.

In response to this line, Matthew A. Cherry, the Oscar-winning director of the short film Hair Love, tweeted his support and called on the rest of Hollywood to do the same: “I would work with John Boyega and I urge other Non-Black creators to affirm that they have his back as well.”

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