George Clooney has written a powerful essay about the race riots sweeping America in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.
The 59-year-old Hollywood star has called for justice following the death of Mr Floyd, who died last week aged 46-years-old.
And the Oscar winning star has declared the death was murder and compared racism across the USA to a pandemic which has infected the country for four centuries.
George shared his thoughts in a letter he wrote to The Daily Beast which was published online on Monday – one week after the shocking death of George Floyd.
George wrote: “There is little doubt that George Floyd was murdered.
“This is our pandemic. It infects all of us, and in 400 years we've yet to find a vaccine.
“The anger and the frustration we see playing out once again in our streets is just a reminder of how little we've grown as a country from our original sin of slavery.
“We need systemic change in our law enforcement and in our criminal justice system. We need policymakers and politicians that reflect basic fairness to all of their citizens equally.”
George also took aim at President Donald Trump who has attracted criticism for his response to the scenes of violence that have been seen in USA.
George blasted: “Not leaders that stoke hatred and violence as if the idea of shooting looters could ever be anything less than a racial dog whistle. Bull Connor was more subtle.”
In a widely criticised tweet, President Trump hinted that lethal force could be authorised after fires and looting erupted in cities where protests had been held.
He wrote: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” drawing a backlash from some quarters of America.
President Trump has since dispatched National Guard soldiers to numbers cities in the USA including Minneapolis and Los Angeles where violent scenes have been observed.
George Floyd died on 25 May 2020 after police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Four officers were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department in connection with the incident, while now ex-officer Derek was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Violence has erupted at the scene of many protests, with buildings set ablaze and stores looted.
Social media users have shared shocking videos and photos of looting, violence and the burning of buildings by some participants of the protests.
While other troubling footage has shown police in NYC ramming demonstrators with SUVs, and police in other cities violently clashing with protestors.
