*Actor Will Smith has opened up about his experience with police brutality and racial abuse in a new interview with Angela Rye.
Smith, who has two sons, also spoke on the police killing of George Floyd.
“So it was painful to watch but I was I was deeply encouraged by the innate connectivity of the protesters globally and we’ve never been there before…We are in a circumstance that we’ve never been in before. The entire globe has stood up and said to the African American people, ‘We see you and we hear you. How can we help?’ We’ve never been there before,” he said.
During the chat, Smith recalled being frequently targeted and racially abused by police while growing up in Philadelphia, and even called the N-word on numerous occasions.
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New conversation with the brilliant @angelarye on my YouTube. Link in bio.
“I grew up in Philadelphia. I grew up under Mayor [Frank] Rizzo. He went from the chief of police to becoming the mayor, and he had an iron hand. I got stopped frequently. So I understand what it’s like to be in those circumstances with the police. I’ve been called n***** by the cops in Philly on more than 10 occasions”
Smith also spoke on the effectiveness of peaceful protests.
“Peaceful protests put a mirror to the demonic imagery of your oppressor. And the more still you are in your peaceful protest, the more clear the mirror is for your oppressor — for the world to see and for them to see themselves.”
He added, “Don’t succumb to lovelessness no matter how much evil you face, because [then] you poison yourself and you poison your own community.”
The Hollywood superstar pledged his “unending devotion to the evolution of my community and the evolution of my country, and ultimately the world, towards the greatest harmony that we’ll be able to create. I am happy to be alive during this time, and to serve.”
Scroll up and hear/watch Will Smith tell it via the clip above.
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