Michelle Obama Says "It’s Up to All of Us" to Root Out Racism: "It Starts with Self-Examination"

• Michelle Obama has released a statement following the murder of George Floyd (opens in new tab).
• To help support protesters and demand justice, please head here (opens in new tab).

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has released a statement about the importance of self-examination and rooting out racism following the murder of George Floyd (opens in new tab)—whose death has prompted nationwide protests (opens in new tab) against racism and police brutality in America.

She began her post by saying she's "exhausted by a heartbreak that never seems to stop," and continued, "Right now it’s George, Breonna (opens in new tab), and Ahmaud (opens in new tab). Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on. Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it."

"It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out," Michelle wrote. "It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us."

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