His impersonations of Jay Z, Barack Obama, Denzel Washington, and many others brought in laughs during his time on Saturday Night Live or in his comedy routines, but Jay Pharoah shared a story that was anything but funny. People have been coming forward with tales of their frightening run-ins with police, and Jay recently shared a video to his Instagram page where he detailed a run-in with the Los Angeles Police Department while exercising in Ventura, California.

Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images

"Coincidentally, when the footage dropped for Ahmaud Arbery, a week prior to that I was actually in Ventura. I was exercising. As I'm walking across the street, Corbin and Ventura, I see an officer to the left of me. I'm not thinking anything of it because I'm a law-abiding citizen. Also, keep in mind I got my headphones on. I'm in my zone right now." Then, out of nowhere. Jay Pharoah said when he looked again, the officer was coming toward him with his gun drawn.

"I see him say 'Get on the ground, put your hands up like you're an airplane,' Jay remembered. "As he's looking at me I'm thinking that he's making a mistake so I'm looking passed where he's looking." He thought to himself it's about to be a bad day for whoever the cop was after, not knowing it was him. "Four officers got their guns blazing, they tell me to get on the ground, spread my arms out. They put me in cuffs, the officers took his knee, put it on my neck, it wasn't as long as George Floyd, but I know how that feels."

When he asked why he was being held down on the ground, he was told that he "fits the description of a black man in this area with gray sweatpants on and a gray shirt." Jay Pharoah told them to Google him in order for them to see that they made a big mistake. "They come back and they say, 'We're sorry. We just got a call in that it's not you." He said he'd never been in handcuffs before but it was an experience he never wanted to have again. Listen to Jay Pharoah share his harrowing tale in full below.

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Proud to have collabed w/ so many influencers on this one, @theonlycarey thank you for allowing me to express my situation w/ temperance. #blacklivesmatter #BlackFilter #jaypharoah #blackandproud

A post shared by Jay Pharoah (@jaypharoah) on Jun 12, 2020 at 7:19am PDT

In response to growing online pressure, Walmart has announced that it will no longer keep Black beauty products in locked display cases. The policy, intended by the corporation to prevent shoplifting, was previously implemented in 4700 stores. “We have made the decision to discontinue placing multicultural hair care and beauty products in locked cases,” the company said Wednesday in an emailed statement and tweet.

Although the policy has been standard practice for a while, it recently became the focus of social media criticism from people noticing the double standard between Walmart’s approach to products intended for white shoppers and those marketed towards the black community. The backlash largely began after the issue was highlighted by CBS Denver reporter Tori Mason. However, criticism of Walmart is nothing new. The company also recently came under fire for its negligence towards the coronavirus and an insensitive Paul Walker tweet.

Walmart’s decision to unlock Black hair products comes amidst growing protests against racial injustice andGeorge Floyd’s death that several companies have released public statements and implemented policy changes to express solidarity with. In addition to repealing their ‘multicultural’ hair-care lockdown, Walmart Chief Executive Doug McMillon has announced that the company, in partnership with the Walmart Foundation, is pledging $100-million to create a racial equity center. 

According to some new sources, ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, charged with the second-degree murder of George Floyd, was in the process of negotiating a plea deal with federal and state prosecutors prior to his arrest.

Sources close to the situation say the deal was intended to be a “universal deal” that included state murder charges in addition to federal civil rights charges. Negotiations for the deal delayed a May 28th FBI press conference by two hours. During the delayed press conference, U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald shared, “I thought we would have another development to talk to you about, but we don’t.” 

The deal, which ultimately fell through, likely would have required Chauvin to plead guilty.  

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office confirmed a deal with Chauvin in the works, but the negotiations ultimately failed. “There were early negotiations with the defendant (Derek Chauvin), between the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney,” said Hennepin County Attorney spokesperson Chuck Laszewski. Details as to why the deal fell through, the actual terms of the deal, and who walked away from it are all still unclear at this time.

The next day, Friday, May 29th, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder by the Hennepin County Attorney. The charges have since been bumped to second-degree murder, and the three other officers involved are also facing charges. 

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Tucker Carlson is currently facing a storm of online backlash stemming from comments he recently made about the Black Lives Matter movement and recent protests. During his primetime Fox News segment last night, Carlson questioned the intentions of protests against policebrutality and George Floyd’s death, declaring “This may be about a lot of things… but it is definitely not about black lives.” He also warned his audience to “Remember that when they come for you," adding "at this rate, they will.” 

While some conservative commentators applauded Carlson, many others harshly condemned him, causing #tuckercarlsonisaracist to trend on twitter as users pleaded advertisers to stop sponsoring his segment. The public has been most up in arms about Carlson’s “when they come for you” warning, believing that Carlson was referring to black people specifically when referencing “they.”

The NBA has constantly faced backlash over racial discrimination, whether it be microaggressions in the use of terms like 'owner' or more blatantly, Donald Sterling's racist outburst. That's not to say that there hasn't been a change made but there's still a long way to go, especially for the white-collar businessmen behind these teams.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Many sports organizations have stepped forward to denounce racism and police brutality with the exception of the New York Knicks. That is, until today. Jim Dolan did not immediately issue a statement with players from the Knicks reportedly disappointed in the move. Dolan apparently had plans to make the team look apolitical.

"As companies in the business of sports and entertainment... we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters. What's important is how we operate. Our companies are committed to upholding our values which include creating a respectful workplace for all, and that will never change," an internal memo rads.

Things changed this morning when the Knicks shared a statement nearly two weeks after the protest that barely scratched the surface on the issue. "Every one of us has a role to play in creating a more just and equal society, where there is no racism, bigotry, violence or hate. We stand with all who act for positive change," the message reads. 

It didn't take long for fans to quickly pounce on them. Desus Nice tweeted, "DEFUND THE KNICKS" in response to the statement while others pointed out that they tried sidestepping "Black Lives Matter." 

A bloody pig head on a spike was found by Los Angeles Police officers outside of the department’s Rampart Station, a division notorious for its late-90s corruption and police brutality scandals. It is currently unclear who placed the head at the station or if it was intended as a threat. 

The Pig’s head discovery comes amidst large-scale global protests against police brutality and George Floyd’s death. While Derek Chauvin and the other Minneapolis officers involved have been fired and charged, protesters are demanding further reforms to law enforcement practices and the American criminal justice system, as Floyd’s family is seeing a surge of financial support and lawmakers are proposing new legislation aimed at eliminating police brutality. 

Given the high tensions surrounding recent protests and numerous documentedincidents of police violence, the LAPD is reportedly approaching the situation extra cautiously, currently reviewing surveillance footage in an attempt to identify the perpetrator. In the meantime, TMZ reports that LAPD officers, under the direction of Chief Michel Moore who recently blamed George Floyd’s death on looters leading to calls for his resignation, have now been advised to maintain a low profile while off duty, in order to avoid further confrontations with the public.

The last words of Eric Garner, “I can’t breathe,” having become a chilling a reminder of excessive and oft-violent force that is used by police, even when the alleged suspect is unarmed and non-confrontational. Those words re-entered public consciousness when they were repeated, again, by George Floyd as he lay dying at the hands of police officers. 

The three simple words now have such a powerful movement them, with many in American banding together to protest the police, and call for action when it comes to reforming the laws that disproportionately target minorities. Since Minneapolis became the center of focus, the city has not only banned chokeholds, but following that, disbanded their police. 

Eric Garner’s mother at a press conference on June 2, 2020 calling for a ban on chokeholds – Scott Heins/Getty Images

Now, New York is also taking action when it comes to using chokeholds in the police force. On Monday, the New York State Assembly passed a new act, which Governor Andrew Cuomo will reportedly sign into law, that criminalizes the use of chokeholds that result in injury or death. The law is being named after Eric Garner, who was killed in a chokehold by a police officer six years ago, after being suspected of selling loose cigarettes.

If a police officer kills or injures someone through the use of a chokehold or another form of excessive restraint, this bill would make it so that they can be charged with a class C felony, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

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George Floyd, in the wake of his death at the hands of the Minneapolis police, has re-ignited the Black Lives Matter movement with ferocity, and we hope too, will lead to systemic change within the institutions that rule the country. We’re already seeing subtle movement in that direction, with police reform as well as police defunding being pushed across the nation, and Minneapolis’ own police disbanding entirely. 

Following a private funeral, George Floyd’s memorial was open to the public in Houston, Texas, yesterday. Many civilians, upwards of 6,300, poured in to pay their respects to the man who has become the catalyst for long-overdue change, and shone a light on injustices that plague Black people day in and day out.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Today, he will be laid to rest. Floyd’s body will be buried in the city of Pearland, and he will be transported to his final resting place by horse-drawn carriage. He will be buried next to his mother at the Houston Memorial Gardens, reports local news site KHOU.

Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to deliver the eulogy today, while Floyd Mayweather is also expected to attend the services– he previously offered to pay for Floyd’s funeral costs.

As the funeral continues today, you can watch the live stream of the service and procession below.

Rest in Power George Floyd.

Godofredo A. Vásquez – Pool/Getty Images

Drake has already issued his take on this interview between Thomas Lane's lawyer and CNN host Chris Cuomo, but there's quite a bit more to unpack from it.

Lane, one of the four police officers responsible for the death of George Floyd, had his lawyer, Earl Gray conduct an interview with Chris Cuomo where they discussed Lane's defense and the case. The interview resulted in a few incendiary remarks on Gray's side.

Gray attempted to flip things so that was it the public's fault that Floyd died, which Cuomo stopped immediately to counter. "If the public is there and they're so in an uproar about this, they didn't intercede either," Gray said, referring to those who witnessed and filmed the murder. 

"I understand that he has a senior officer telling him what to do, but he also has a duty to intervene," Cuomo said. "The idea that the civilians should have rushed in to a policing situation in the inner city of Minneapolis against four police officers that have weapons and are kneeling on the kneck of a man- don't you think that's asking too much of civilians and a little too little of your client?"

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images & Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Getty Images 

Gray doesn't seem to have anything else to say in response to Cuomo's remarks but agree. "Absolutely," he said before stumbling over his words, "I just brought that up..." You can watch this particular clip in the tweet below.

Lane is among the four Minneapolis police officers who have been charged in the murder of George Floyd. Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, J.A. Kueng and Derek Chauvin were on the scene, and did nothing while Floyd pleaded in his last breathes, and told them: “I can’t breathe.”

Chauvin was arrested first, quickly after the video went viral. From there, as protests erupted (and continue in their second week) across the country, the three other officers were also handed down arrest warrants, and now remain locked up on $1 million bail, while Chauvin’s bail has been set at $1.25 million.

Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images

Lane, alongside his two former colleagues Thao and Kueng, were charged with aiding and abetting in Floyd’s death. Lane and Kueng have both attempted to wash their hands of the charge, by casting blame solely on Chauvin.

Last night, Lane’s lawyer, Earl Gray, did an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo where he used a similar method of deflecting the blame from his client– by casting the blame on those civilians who witnessed the whole murder unfold. Yes, Gray actually said: “If the public is there and they’re so in an uproar about this, they didn’t intercede either.”

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images

Now, TMZ has reported that Lane is actually asking for the public to help fund his defense. It seems unbelievable, but reportedly Lane and his family have set up a website, where they’re soliciting donations. The website attempts to make a case for Lane’s defense as well, bringing up several points that Gray also iterated in last night’s interview. Things like: Lane was the one who suggested they roll Floyd over on his side (but they didn’t), as well as the fact that Lane called the ambulance for Floyd, and attempted to perform CPR on him when the ambulance arrived.

Ultimately, Lane says that he did everything that the chain of command allowed him to do.

What do you think of this latest development? 

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