The Rock: ‘There is military force that has been deployed on our own people’


My friend Karen sent me this video by The Rock speaking out about Black Lives Matter. I had to hold back tears watching it, and I was crying all day yesterday. It really feels like things are changing, like so many people are starting to get it, and like the tide is turning, but how many people have to be killed, injured, vilified, discriminated against and treated like criminals for asking for basic human rights? How much worse will it get? This video was posted yesterday and it’s powerful. This is one of the most beloved and well known stars in the world telling us that things are awful and that Trump is a war criminal, only he’s not saying that outright. That video is above, it’s been viewed over 8 million times on Instagram and 4 million on Twitter, and here’s part of what he said.

Where are you? Where is our leader at this time? At this time when our country is down on its knees, begging, pleading, hurt, angry, frustrated, in pain, begging and pleading with its arms out just wanting to be heard. Begging and pleading and praying for change. Where are you? Where is our compassionate leader who is going to step up to our country…

And say ‘stand up with me because I got you. I got you, I hear you, I’m listening to you. You have my word that I’m going to do everything in my power to create the change that is needed, to normalize equality because Black Lives Matter.’ Where are you?

It’s that same compassionate leader who has to come back and readdress the country, to give important context. Of course all lives matter, every single one, because we as Americans, we believe in human rights. We believe in equality for all. That’s what we believe in. So of course all lives matter.

But in this moment right now, this defining pivotal explosive moment where our country is down on its knees, the floorboards of our country are becoming unhinged. In this moment. We must say the words Black Lives Matter.

Where are you. Here’s what happens when you extend a hand and when you read out to Americans that are in pain. They stand with you. The entire country stands and rises as well.

There is military force that has been deployed on our own people. Looters, yes. Criminals, absolutely. But our protesters, who are begging and pleading, our protesters who are in pain? You know, you would be surprised how people in pain would respond when you say to them, ‘I care about you.’ When you say to them, ‘I’m listening to you.’

As we continue to wait for that leader to emerge, I would recommend to all of you that we must become the leaders we are looking for. We become our own leaders because we’re doing it now. We’re doing it now. We must become the leaders we are looking for.

[From Instagram]

This was really good and I like how he said Black Lives Matter outright, but he missed a chance to endorse Biden! He was phrasing that whole speech like he was practicing for a role as President where the bad guys storm the White House. (I would watch that.) Just tell people to vote for Biden already. Hell just tell people to VOTE. I feel like he’s saying that without saying it, you know? It’s like he cares deeply but is holding back a little out of concern for losing fans. This was such a powerful statement for him to make, I just want him to go even further with it. Is he saying that he wants to run at some point? He’s danced around that in the past. If so, THE FIRST STEP IS TO ENDORSE BIDEN. We’re not going to elect The Rock later this year. I’m sorry for yelling. I’ve had some time to think about this and while the video moved me so much I feel like he should have clearly told people to vote.

I know who my leader is, and I’m going to elect his Vice President. Once he’s in office I’ll consider him my President. *knock all the wood everywhere and I don’t want to cry again* Also, I know that me being upset and overwhelmed is a tiny price to pay comparatively.

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Past few days I’ve been stunned trying make sense of George Floyd’s death. The video. The plea for breath. The callous response. The racism. The killing. This is our ongoing disease. I’ve had cops in my family. Good men. And there’s a cop code, granting you the authority to use force if your life is in danger. But when a man is handcuffed, on the ground, no longer a threat, with your brothers in arms standing around watching and he struggles to say, “please I can’t breathe” when your knee is on his neck.. not his back, but his neck – cutting off his air. Cop code must become moral code. Ethics code. HUMANITY code. Knowing that if you don’t ease up, then that man is going to die. So when you decide to not ease up, your intention is to kill. And that’s what this was. George Floyd, said “officer I can’t breathe” as he struggled for air. He said these words a total of 15 times. Not once. Not twice. 15 times. These officers will be charged, I’m positive of that. Held accountable. But then where’s the greater accountability? The leadership to healing. More importantly, the leadership to EQUALITY. We ultimately win when we can normalize equality. I’m so sorry to the Floyd family. My heart breaks for you. Let the process begin now. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #NormalizeEquality

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9 Responses to “The Rock: ‘There is military force that has been deployed on our own people’”

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  1. lemonylips says:

    That was a great speech. Well done! I just wish I hadn’t clicked on the thread and saw so many people still not getting everything that’s happening and being like all lives matter. He is literally talking about that and why this is time to stand up for black lives. I’m not from USA and I am white. But I do know history very well and it pains me to see what people are going through and how so many are still DECIDING to be blind and deaf. I wish I was there, marching with all of you. I wish there is something more that I can do, from what I’m already doing – trying to tell my friends why this is important and why you better do more than a black post and a hash on ig. Rock though – there’s still time for him to endorse. This is a start from him, and in a way I am glad that he did it without the endorsment. He wanted to send one message out and it needed to be clear and strong. And he delivered. I’m sure, he’ll be bringing more and when the time comes he’ll be addressing people about voting.

  2. nic says:

    Give him a decade or two and he’ll be in office.

  3. Chelly says:

    Compassion, empathy, a vow for change to MAKE America great. This is what people want in a leader. Not a racist, narcissistic, flaming orange dumpster fire

  4. NatureLover says:

    I am so glad that The Rock pointed out that racism is a disease, because it is. Racism is a learned behaviour from decades of families bringing up children to be racist. You aren’t born a racist, you learn it from your parents and family members, just as you learn to be an abuser. Until the chain of the racists disease is erased, it will always be a blight on society. And I agree that The Rock should not have taken this message to endorse Biden or to get out to vote. The Rock had one message and he shouldn’t detract from that message of where is our leader. Our leader will never come out and support the protests because he has openly spewed his racist views for years now and his MAGAt’s love him for that. That why there has been such an atrocious spike in hate crimes.

  5. Yup, Me says:

    I feel like people forget that Dwayne Johnson is half Black. Probably because he doesn’t really make statements like “I’m half Black and this affects my family in these ways.” and also since he’s both a celebrity and ethnically ambiguous in his appearance.

    This video is wack and a fail. I like Dwayne Johnson but I did not like this video or his “call to action”.

  6. My Bum is on the Swedish says:

    This man could read me the map to Hell and I would soak up every word. What a great speaker.

    I also agree that it’s a good thing that he didn’t use this speech to endorse anyone. It’s smart that he didn’t directly say Trump’s name or mention Biden because he knows mention of either would isolate certain members of the audience. He’s trying to reach out to everyone, despite their political views.

    It would be interesting to see him endorse Biden considering he’s a Republican….

  7. emmy says:

    For the longest time he has avoided speaking on social issues though and he’s always avoided being seen as black or mixed. It’s his prerogative to not be defined by his race or ethnicity but even this speech was rather… measured. If you consider what’s happening. I don’t know, I like him a lot. He’s still doing this with his brand in mind though.

  8. Charfromdarock says:

    I watched thus yesterday and I couldn’t hold back tears.

  9. Jayna says:

    Dwayne was once registered as a Republican, now registered as an Independent. He said in 2016 both Trump and Hillary asked for his endorsement and turned down both, because he would end up alienating a chunk of his fan base no matter who he supported and didn’t want to sway anyone’s opinion on who they were voting for.

    So he was no different than Taylor. He said he didn’t want to make people unhappy with the thought of whatever his political view was.