Screenshot from Guardian News
After Star Wars star John Boyega delivered a powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London, Lucasfilm and Disney have both confirmed that their 100% behind the actor. He may no longer be part of the Star Wars galaxy after the release of last year’s The Rise of Skywalker, but he is definitely still a part of the Disney family.
A demonstration was recently held in London’s Hyde Park and Boyega revealed his own experiences as a black man as well as delivered an emotional speech about America’s history of police brutality against African-Americans.
“We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. 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.” Boyega said in his speech. “I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f*** that.”
“I need you to understand how painful this s*** is,” he further said. “I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing and that isn’t the case anymore, that was never the case anymore.”
“Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don’t know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don’t know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we’re going to make sure that won’t be an alien thought to our young ones.”
After his speech, the official Star Wars Twitter account has since tweeted: “Lucasfilm stands with John Boyega and his message that, ‘Now is the time. Black lives have always mattered… Black lives have always been important. Black lives have always meant something. The evil that is racism must stop. We will commit to being part of the change that is long overdue in the world. John Boyega. You are our hero.”
You can watch John Boyega’s entire speech via the video below courtesy of Guardian News: