Kim Kardashian pens open letter in the wake of police shootings: ‘We must do something now’

Speaking out: Kim Kardashian has written an essay in the wake of police shootings
Jeff Spicer/Getty
Jennifer Ruby8 July 2016
The Weekender

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Kim Kardashian has written an open letter following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

The reality star, who is married to rapper Kanye West, has said that she doesn’t want to have to teach her son ‘to be scared of the police’.

In an essay posted on her website, the 35-year-old urges her fans to ‘speak up and be heard’ about police brutality.

“This week we watched Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two innocent black men, get senselessly murdered by police officers,” she wrote.

“Like a lot of you guys, I watched the videos, and was appalled and completely heartbroken. I was left speechless, angry and numb.”

Kardashian, who has two young children, added: “I want my children to grow up knowing that their lives matter.

“I do not ever want to have to teach my son to be scared of the police, or tell him that he has to watch his back because the people we are told to trust—the people who "protect and serve"—may not be protecting and serving him because of the color of his skin.”

She added: “The last thing we need is to fuel anger with more hate or violence, especially toward the many incredible police officers who risk their lives every single day to protect our families and communities.

"We must peacefully use the power of our voices and the strength of our numbers to demand changes in the judicial system so that brutality doesn't ever go unpunished.

“We must do something NOW. We must speak up until we are heard and real, effective changes are made.”

Kardashian is among a host of stars who have spoken out in the wake of the tragedies this week.

Drake wrote an emotional letter on Thursday, saying that he had been left ‘truly scared’ by the events.

Sterling, who was 37, was killed following an altercation with Louisiana police outside a shop in Baton Rouge on July 5.

Castile, who was 32, was shot and killed by an officer in Minnesota when he reached for his wallet to show his driving licence just two days later.

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