Photos by Jamie Lamor Thomson/Shutterstock and Cubankite/Shutterstock
Singers Halsey and Yungblud are in Santa Monica once again protesting against racism and police brutality – and this time, they’re pleading for anyone with medical training to standby on the outskirts of the rallies to treat people who are injured.
“I don’t know how to articulate the horrors of today,” Halsey writes on Twitter.
“We don’t have enough medics on the ground on our side. I was treating injuries I am not qualified to. So much blood spilled.”
She describes bandaging a man “who looked like his entire face had exploded today” after being hit by rubber bullets:
do not underplay these rubber bullets bc you have been told they are “not lethal”. I had to bandage a man who looked like his entire face had exploded today. So before you say, from the comfort of your home, that we’re exaggerating, please consider the injuries some have suffered
— h (@halsey) June 1, 2020
According to Halsey, fellow singer Yungblud “literally ran exposed in front of rounds being shot to drag wounded people to safety without even thinking twice.”
And a big personal thank you to @yungblud who literally ran exposed in front of rounds being shot to drag wounded people to safety without even thinking twice.
— h (@halsey) June 1, 2020
Halsey also shared a short video showing police advancing towards them.
“We’re doing nothing and they’re still advancing,” Halsey can be heard saying in the clip before a small explosion takes place.
WHO ARE YOU PROTECTING? pic.twitter.com/o9LtDZRknG
— h (@halsey) June 1, 2020
The singer was hit twice by pellets and shrapnel at an earlier Los Angeles protest.
“We were peaceful. Hands up. Not moving. Not breaching the line,” she writes in an Instagram story.
“Most of us were simply begging them to have empathy…..they opened fire multiple times.”
fired rubber bullets at us. we did not breach the line. hands were up. unmoving. and they gassed and fired. pic.twitter.com/K8YauF0APn
— h (@halsey) May 31, 2020
Halsey is also using her platform to urge those who are attending the protests as allies of the black community to listen.
“If they are venting their pain and anguish out loud do not speak over them. Allies are there to help when help is needed. Not take control of the narrative, there’s enough of that already.”
And fucking listen to the black people speaking. You are not there to speak over them. If they are venting their pain and anguish out loud do not speak over them. Allies are there to help when help is needed. Not take control of the narrative. there’s enough of that already.
— h (@halsey) June 1, 2020
To learn more about how Halsey and Yungblud are standing in solidarity with the black community, follow their updates on Twitter:
@iamhalsey and @yungblud.