Jay-Z Called Minnesota Governor About George Floyd’s Death

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Jay-Z Called Minnesota Governor About George Floyd’s Death

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

During a press conference on Sunday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said that he had recently received a call from Jay-Z about the state’s response to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

While talking about the various ways public figures have responded, Walz said that he “reciev[ed] a call last night, to understand how big this was, from Jay-Z. Not international performer, but dad stressing to me that justice needs to be served and that, as he’s listening and hearing it, that this is a place that wants to do it. That this is a place that does it, but we have to follow through.”

Walz also talked to local news station FOX 9 about the call. as Pitchfork points out. “It was so incredibly human,” Walz said. “It was a dad — and I think quite honestly a black man whose visceral pain of this that he knew. His words summarized that justice needs to be served here.”

“He said he feels the compassion and the humanity of these folks who are speaking,” he continued. “He knows the world is watching, and how Minnesota handles this is going to have an impact across the country. It’s a positive sign that someone of a stature, that has a presence like that, is focused in the moment of what Minnesotas are focused on.”

Governor Walz fully mobilized the state’s National Guard for the first time since World War II in response to the protests.

Beyoncé also shared a message about Floyd’s death over the weekend. Earlier this month, Jay-Z signed an open letter from his Roc Nation management company calling for swift justice in the murder case of Ahmaud Arbery.

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