Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Gucci/Illinois State Police via AP
Solange Knowles has shared a rare message on social media in reaction to the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey.
Solange Knowles took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 23 to share a message about the fatal incident and to send support to Massey’s family.
“First words Sonya Massey said at her front door were ‘don’t hurt me,'” Knowles wrote. “She was told ‘why would we hurt you, you called us.'”
Knowles added that those words have seemingly meant nothing “when [you’re] Black and [a] woman in this country.”
“When do those words protect you from not being murdered in your kitchen, in your bedroom, with your babies, or on your lawn,” Knowles added. “What is ‘reassurance,’ in this place ?”
The singer concluded her message with, “Rest in power, Sonya Massey, and an abundance of love and power to Sonya’s family on this journey.”
To note, Knowles’ message about Massey’s death is the first time she has posted on the platform since reposting a tweet on March 1 and posting her own message on February 20.
Social media users reacted to Knowles’ message in the comment section of her tweet. Many appeared to believe the actions of the deputy who gunned down Massey in her home were motivated by racial discrimination.
“all of this just because we’re Black,” one user wrote.
“This is why you need to pay attention to the attempts to dismantle DEI/EEOC measures with colorblind theory. Acknowledging race is not racist, pretending like others don’t have different experiences in life due to their race is. Without being able to acknowledge race, black men and women can’t talk about racism. If we can’t talk about racism, we can’t talk about how to prevent this. RIP Sonya Massey,” another user added.
Another user remarked on the officer’s actions prior to the fatal shooting.
“The cop could have easily just turned the water off if it was going to be a issue,” they wrote.
Another user sent prayers to Massey’s family.
“These words are a powerful reminder of the systemic issues that persist. My heart goes out to Sonya Massey’s family and loved ones,” they added.
As The Shade Room previously reported, 36-year-old Sonya Massey called the police to her home in Springfield, Illinois on July 6. The woman believed an intruder was in or near her home.
When two deputies arrived, they reportedly assessed that she appeared mentally unwell. Upon her invitation, they later entered her home and noticed she had water boiling on her stove. Deputy Sean Grayson ordered Massey to turn off the stove, and as she complied, he threatened to shoot her in the face.
The officer ultimately fired three shots at Massey; one struck her in the head. Bodycam footage showed the second officer offering to render aid to Massey immediately but instead being denied by Officer Grayson. Despite later assisting the woman, Massey was pronounced dead at a hospital about twenty-five minutes after the gunfire rang out.
The officer has since been terminated from the police force and indicted on five counts, which include three counts of first-degree murder, as he awaits trial, per The Shade Room. According to Fox 35 Orlando, Grayson has “been employed by a half-dozen police agencies since 2020.”
He has reportedly worked part-time at multiple “small police departments” and full-time at two “sheriff’s offices.”
The outlet adds that the Justice Department has opened an investigation into the shooting. Meanwhile, Massey’s father, James Wilburn, is reportedly asking Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign.
“I want to tell y’all the sheriff here is an embarrassment,” Wilburn reportedly stated. “This man (Grayson) should have never had a badge. And he should have never had a gun. He should have never been given the opportunity to kill my child.”
Furthermore, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have reportedly called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. According to the House Committee on the Judiciary, the act strives to make “it easier for the federal government to successfully prosecute police misconduct cases, ends racial and religious profiling, and eliminates qualified immunity for law enforcement.”
