Minneapolis, a city in Minnesota (USA), is known for its sky-high office buildings and a lively nightlife. However, due to the recent killing of a black man at the hands of the local police, the city has turned into a chaotic nightmare.
And not only that, America has turned into a war zone with riots and protests in many major states.
Police brutality is highly common against African Americans living in the United States. This discrimination dates back to 1492 when the majority of the black people living in America were kept as slaves. However, it was only in 1865 that slavery ended with the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution.
Even though slavery ended, racism against the African Americans did not, and this in turn has divided societies. Every year riots take place against the discriminatory and brutal acts of the police against one particular race.
The incident that started it all
This year it was the death of a 46-year-old unarmed man, George Floyd, that sparked waves of outrage in the United States. People in many different cities are taking to the streets to demand justice for the deceased.
Footage of a police officer kneeling down on George Floyd’s neck until he took his last breath was shared on social media. This display of devastatingly inhumane behavior brought people from different backgrounds and cultures together. Enough is enough, they said.
Trigger Warning: The incident that started it all, this video is not for the faint of heart. You can skip ahead to the rest of the post.
Bollywood Stars shed crocodile tears
As protests erupted in America and even worldwide, many celebrities spoke out on the matter and expressed their disbelief. Among these celebrities were also Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra, Tiger Shroff, and Kareena Kapoor, who condemned racism against African Americans.
In a picture posted on her Instagram account, Priyanka stated,
There is so much work to be done and it needs to starts at an individual level on a global scale. We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and end this hate.
End this race war here in the US, and around the world. Wherever you live, whatever your circumstances, NO ONE deserves to die, especially at the hands of another because of their skin color.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAx5P_njP-S/?utm_source=ig_embed
A number of people couldn’t help but notice the hypocrisy that these Bollywood stars possess. They couldn’t help but point out at a burning issue in India’s own backyard. Indian Muslims are killed and ill-treated on a daily basis in India, yet these same celebrities choose to remain silent on the matter.
As one Instagram user accurately pointed out:
Remember the time when you cheered for war? People deserved to die then? Remember the time you invited a genocider to your marriage reception because thats how the desi girl rolls right? Remember the time you appropriated northeast identity? It’s not racism when “global star” Priyanka Chopra does it.
Or do you remember the time Delhi police was engaging in police brutality against students in the capital of our country and you kept quite because Hollywood brown girl only speaks about police brutality in the west. Oh oh oh remember now? Now now… When the Indian state is arresting activitists and students for dissenting amidst the pandamic. You remember? A lot of work needs to be done indeed.
People can’t help but take out their sentiments on social media regarding Bollywood celebrities’ pretenses.
After Priyanka Chopra, now Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor have raised voice against the murder of George Floyd. Bollywood celebs, please sit down. You have absolutely no moral grounding to speak on racial injustice in USA while you keep mum on Brahmanical atrocities in India 1/3
— Revolutionary Memes For Bahujan Teens (@RMBT_tweets) May 30, 2020
The Black resistance movement in the USA DOES NOT need sUPpOrT from spinless leeches like you. You can not stay tight-lipped on Rohith Vemula, Delhi Pogrom, CAA/NRC, Najeeb, Akhlaq, Payal Tadvi, Delta Meghwal and then pretend to care about racial injustice in the US. 2/3
— Revolutionary Memes For Bahujan Teens (@RMBT_tweets) May 30, 2020
We know that you neither have an understanding of the Black movement nor Bahujan struggle. It's just your cOoL PR managers who think it's a good idea to make an Insta post on George Floyd. Your PR machinery as worthless as you. Do better. You look like a F***ing moron. 3/3
— Revolutionary Memes For Bahujan Teens (@RMBT_tweets) May 30, 2020
Mahwish Ajaz, a Pakistani cultural critic, couldn’t hold back either:
Any ‘activist’/‘star’ who did not speak up for CAA/NRC in India has no right to now get cool points for #blacklivesmatter https://t.co/uQhOlKaBIC
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) May 31, 2020
Seems like police brutality in America is a no-no for Priyanka, but she can turn a blind eye towards it in her own country.
https://twitter.com/thewisecrab/status/1267092086848962562?s=19
Tag your fav Bollywood hypocrite! pic.twitter.com/6VqJ4rKPO2
— Sanitary Panels (@sanitarypanels) May 31, 2020
Priyanka Chopra posting about police brutality in USA and not too long ago she was celebrating KPS Gill for doing the same in Punjab? I have never seen a celebrity this tone deaf.
— amok (@mallanxx) May 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/dialecticsoupy/status/1266640880401874945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266640880401874945&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2232376%2F4-priyanka-chopra-blacklivesmatter-indian-minorities-dont%2F
How are these two any different?
How could you not see our people being killed by Police and then asked to sing National Anthem? @PMOIndia How long will you take to prosecute these monsters in uniform? @priyankachopra Do Indian muslims' lives matter? I hope you answer. pic.twitter.com/b8T3mgSuhp— Swati K. (@mynameswatik) May 31, 2020
Priyanka Chopra can’t see the big picture
Last year, the BJP government passed the highly controversial CAA laws. These anti-Muslim CAA laws are about rights to religious minorities in India – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians – everyone except the Muslims from outside are eligible for citizenship in India.
The motive behind CAB is to actually legitimise the citizenship of all those non-Muslims who may be declared as illegal immigrants as per the NRC.
Says Faizan Mustafa, who is an expert in constitutional law.
Brutality against the Indian Muslims triggered by the Hindu supremacists, who openly support this notion, is widely ignored by the Bollywood stars and prominent figures around the globe.
What will it take for these people to take a stand and speak up against discrimination in their own hometowns?
Share your views in the comments section.
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