In a viral clip posted to Twitter by NBC News reporter Gadi Schwartz, actress Keke Palmer is seen pleading with members of the National Guard to “join the revolution” during a Los Angeles protest that took place Tuesday in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd.
“You have a president that’s talking about the second amendment as a use for people to use firearms against the people that are protesting,” she says passionately. She continued, “You have to pay attention to what is going on. We have a president that’s trying to incite a race war.”
“This is when we need your help, and you all stand with the community, with society to stop the governmental oppression, period,” she continued, to which one guardsman responded, “I agree.”
She then asks the guardsmen to “march beside us. Let the revolution be televised, march beside us and show us that you’re here for us.” For the most part, the guardsmen respond positively, ultimately agreeing to march a short distance and to kneel in solidarity, but still they refused to join in the protesting and repeat that they have to “protect these businesses,” to which Palmer replies, “You should be protecting us.” As Palmer continues to urge the guardsmen to value human life over property, the crowd around her cheers in agreement. The guardsmen, likely aware that cameras are on them, eventually kneel, to which Palmer says, “OK. I’m at a loss. I don’t know. That ain’t enough for me.”