*A number of celebrities joined the countless on Twitter expressing anger and frustration over the death of Alton Sterling, a black man fatally shot by police in Baton Rouge, La. on Tuesday.
Amateur video of the shooting went viral Tuesday night, sparking peaceful protests in Baton Rouge and a renewed outrage about police brutality. It was initially reported that Sterling was unarmed, but at a media conference Wednesday, the Baton Rouge police chief said Sterling had a weapon.
On Wednesday morning, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will spearhead the investigation. The officers involved in the shooting are on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The amateur video shows the 37-year-old Sterling pinned down by two officers when multiple shots are fired. Authorities say Sterling died of gunshot wounds to his chest and back.
#AltonSterling began trending on Twitter Tuesday night. View some of the reactions below:
#AltonSterling. Say his name.
— Samira Wiley (@samirawiley) July 6, 2016
1) In the interest of time, would ye noble patriots please provide a list of infractions punishable by spontaneous public execution? Thanks!
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 6, 2016
#AltonSterling
Please. No more. This must stop.— Rashida Jones (@iamrashidajones) July 6, 2016
God dammit #AltonSterling #blacklivesmatter
— Constance Zimmer (@ConstanceZimmer) July 6, 2016
That’s murder. #AltonSterling
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) July 6, 2016
Another police murder on video. #AltonSterling.
Watching his son crying & collapse on live TV is heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/gQb8QaxeXD
— Isaac Hayes III (@IsaacHayes3) July 6, 2016
Something is horribly wrong. This is an epidemic. #AltonSterling https://t.co/0bo04H2IRb
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) July 6, 2016
I am literally sick to my stomach watching the video of the #AltonSterling takedown.
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) July 6, 2016
You can’t just go on with your day, you must watch this & we must face this continual outrageousness #ALTONSTERLING https://t.co/NqW3aVSZ1j
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 6, 2016
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 6, 2016
He had a right to sell CDs, and a right to due process, but he he was shot for being a black man. Don’t rationalize murder. #AltonSterling
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 6, 2016
How many more times must this happen for us to matter? How many more must we lose?
BLACK. LIVES. MATTER. #AltonSterling— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 6, 2016
Love to Louisiana #AltonSterling
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 6, 2016
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