George Floyd's death is why Kaepernick kneeled, LeBron James says: 'Do you understand now?' - NBC News

The death of George Floyd, a black man, while in custody of Minneapolis police prompted celebrities such as NBA star LeBron James, director Ava DuVernay and rapper Meek Mill to express their outrage on social media.

James posted a photo of an officer kneeling on Floyd's neck next to a picture of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeling on the sidelines during the National Anthem at a game.

Floyd died on Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto his neck for at least eight minutes while Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe.

"Please, please, please, I can't breathe," Floyd begged.

Minneapolis police said early Tuesday that officers were responding to a report of a forgery when they tried to detain Floyd, who officers said "physically resisted." He died after "suffering medical distress," the police department said!

The Minneapolis Police Department said it is cooperating with the investigations.

Meek Mill said that after repeated videos of police officers "beating us like slaves" there still isn't protection for black people!

Some celebs called for justice, while others such as Common tweeted the words "#ICantBreathe," the words Floyd said to the officer as he was pinned to the ground!

Just that picture: the casualness of that cop, hands in pockets, surrounded by accomplices & armed to make up for his physical deficits, kneeling on George Floyd's neck and murdering him, makes me vomit rage.

The video of a Minneapolis police officer killing a defenseless, handcuffed man is one of the most vile and heartbreaking images I’ve ever seen.

Here's the sad reality: what happened to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery & Christian Cooper has gone on for generations to Black Americans.

Demarcus Lawrence, a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, said it's hard to feel safe when minorities are being killed by the people who are meant to protect them

Actress Debra Messing said the video of Floyd being detained "f---ed me up," while Justin Bieber called for racism to end