Despite everything, some protestors have still managed to maintain their sense of humour. At a demonstration in Los Angeles on Tuesday (June 2nd), just one of the many nationwide efforts to fight against police brutality and systemic racism, comedian Everett Byram took the opportunity to parody Kendall Jenner's famously mocked and later revoked 2017 Super Bowl Pepsi commercial.

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As you are likely well aware, in the now-infamous ad, the model opts to ditch a photo shoot in order to join a march taking place on the street. It's not clear what the protest is for, but regardless, Kendall takes part, and ultimately hands a police officer a can of Pepsi as a peace offering. The commercial was widely criticized for its tone-deaf portrayal of protestors' relationship with police as well as its oversimplification of activism.

However, Everett, like many in the years since the ad aired, found the humour in the absurdity of this ridiculous gesture, and decided to try it out for real. In a clip from the L.A. protest, Everett can be seen handing an LAPD officer a can of Pepsi.

“Hey, you guys, like a Kardashian over here," he says. "Hey, look, it’s a Pepsi, you want a Pepsi? Have it! Have a Pepsi, dude!” After the officer declines his offer, Everett exclaims, “But it helped in the commercial!" The cop responds, “I don’t drink soda."

In another instance, a protestor attempted to use Kendall's strategy by approaching a line-up of police officers in full riot gear, his arm outstretched holding a bottle of Pepsi. "I can’t believe someone actually did it," a Twitter user wrote in the caption.

J Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane, two of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd, are casting sole blame on Derek Chauvin for the 46-year-old Black man’s death on their watch. On Thursday (June 4th), all three officers charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter made their first court appearance in the case. Both Kueng and Lane’s attorneys are rejecting the accusations that their client played any critical role in the killing of Floyd, who died after former officer Chauvin knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he stopped breathing.

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“What is my client supposed to do but follow what the [senior] officer says?” Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, argued in court. “The strength of this case, your honor, in my opinion is extremely weak.” 

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Video shows Lane, a rookie officer who was working his fourth day as a full-time officer on the day of Floyd’s death, restraining Floyd’s legs as Chauvin choked him with his knee. Keung, working his third shift ever as a full-time officer, kept a firm grip of Floyd’s back as he pleaded for mercy.

“What was [Lane] supposed to do…go up to Mr. Chauvin and grab him and throw him off?” asked Gray. He argued that there was no evidence to charge his client. Kueng’s attorney, Thomas Plunkett, attempted to make a similar argument. “At all times Mr. Kueng and Mr. Lane turned their attention to that 19-year veteran,” Plunkett noted. “[Kueng] was trying — they were trying to communicate that this situation needs to change direction.”

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According to charging documents, Lane had asked Chauvin twice if they should roll Floyd onto his side, but he was shut down. At one point, Kueng took Floyd’s pulse but “couldn’t find one,” according to the criminal complaint.

“We recognize the statements that this defendant made,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, the prosecutor on this case, regarding Lane, “but beyond that, [he] did nothing but hold the victim down [and] started CPR too late.”

Chauvin is facing charges second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter charges. His bail has been set at $1 million, and he is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case on Monday, June 8th.

George Floyd, a 46-year-old Minneapolis man, was killed after a since-fired police officer, Derek Chauvin, applied forceful pressure on his neck and back for nearly nine minutes, resulting in his death at the scene. Two opposing autopsies confirm that Floyd’s death can be ruled a homicide, with one directly pointing to asphyxia as a result of Chauvin’s pressure. 

Derek Chauvin is currently in a maximum-security prison and has been charged with third-degree murder. Ben Crump, a world-renowned civil rights attorney working for the family of George Floyd, is urging the authorities to upgrade his charges to first-degree murder. There has been no news regarding the three other officers involved in Floyd’s death, until now that is.

Ben Crump was on The Today Show this morning (June 2) when he stated that he and the Floyd family have been informed that the three other officers will be charged for their involvement in the murder.

“We heard that they expect to charge those officers…We understand they will be charged. That is what the family is hearing from the authorities and [Floyd] died on the scene and that’s important to note,” Crump said.

The county autopsy found that Floyd died of heart failure while the independent autopsy directly claims it was asphyxia. These discrepancies will reportedly be vital to the case, according to Crump.

We will keep you updated on any news regarding the charges coming for the three other officers.

Nicki Minaj is breaking her silence on the murder of George Floyd after protests have been taking over the country. The rapper issued a statement and reminded people that, without us speaking out, this will just happen again. She shared a board with the last words of people of color that were killed by police officers, including George Floyd.

“When 4 black THUGS commit a crime, if 1 person commits murder, they ALL get charged & CONVICTED. When white THUGS/COPS KILL innocent black people, ALL 4 of them are responsible‼️‼️‼️ They all watched an unarmed man die and did nothing‼️ Why do they have different rules?????,” asked Nicki Minaj on Instagram.

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“Let your voice be heard. Be angry,” she continued. “White people have been using violence against us since the beginning of time. We didn’t invent violence & looting. Will these officers actually get convicted? Probably not. Let your voice be heard. Call & TEXT to be a part of these petitions. May Mr. Floyd Rest In Peace.”

Her message speaks volumes, also referencing the horrific killings of Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Freddie Gray, and more.

Nicki Minaj is one of many that are using their platform to speak out in the wake of all that has been happening across the nation. With protests happening by day and lootings taking place at night, it’s important for everybody to do what they can to fight the powers killing our friends and families.

This morning, the world was shocked-- once again-- by the death of an unarmed black man at the hands of a police officer. This particular tragedy actually recalls another killing by police officers, that of Eric Garner, as both victims pleaded that they could not breathe as the police officers closed their respective airways. 

The Minneapolis man who died is George Floyd. His name has begun to trend across the internet, as people rally in his support and demand justice. It's caused many rappers to speak out too, enraged by what they saw on the disturbing video footage, calling for more than just another protest.

The video showed a police officer forcing his knee on to Floyd's neck, preventing his ability to breathe. Floyd pleaded, "I cannot breathe! I cannot breathe!" And eventually, he stopped breathing. He was later taken to the hospital, where he died. 

He was originally arrested as a forgery suspect, although there are no new details concerning this.

A protester prays in front of the memorial of George Floyd who died in custody on May 26, 2020 / KEREM YUCEL/AFP Getty Images

While the police officers involved in the arrest of Floyd have yet to be identified, the Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo has confirmed that four officers were fired, calling them "former" employees.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, calling the incident "wrong at every level." 

"This does not reflect the values that Chief Arradondo has worked tirelessly to instill. It does not represent the training we've invested in or the measures we've taken to ensure accountability. Being black in America should not be a death sentence," Frey said.

We'll keep you posted as more details emerge in this ongoing story.

These days, it feels as if police are doubling down on rappers. We’ve recently seen DaBabydeveloping a testy relationship with law enforcement, and last night Offset found himself handcuffed and slammed against a wall by police officers. Though they neglected to inform to the rapper about their reasoning for arresting him, it’s said to have stemmed from the potential threat of an armed man. And though they might have suspected Offset and his entourage over similarities to a witness description, it would appear they have ultimately let him go.

While Offset’s legal team has yet to issue an official statement, Offset took a moment to explain the situation on Akademiks’ page. “Nah I’m out wrung person mistakes us,” he writes, implying a case of mistaken identity. That of course sparked a different sort of outrage, especially given the aggressive manner in which he was handled. Yet Offset seems relatively understanding of the situation, explaining to the TMZ camera crew that police “had to do” what they did. 

Alongside the video below, TMZ has also provided an update on some of the details. Apparently, police found two loaded handguns in Offset’s SUV and only took him in when nobody admitted to owning the guns. After two men ended up confirming to ownership, the police allowed Offset to walk, though two men were booked on firearms charges. Leaving the station, Offset maintained that everything was a misunderstanding, a case of mistaken identity and nothing more than that.