Solange took to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday morning (July 23) to voice her outrage at the graphic video of the fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey. The Illinois woman was shot and killed by law enforcement on July 6 after calling 9-1-1 for help. The body cam footage was released to the public this week.
“First words Sonya Massey said at her front door were ‘don’t hurt me,’” Solange tweeted.
The singer/songwriter continued: “She was told ‘why would we hurt you, you called us’ when have those words meant anything when your black and woman in this country. When do those words protect you from not being murdered in your kitchen, in your bedroom, with your babies, or on your lawn. What is ‘reassurance,’ in this place ? Rest in power Sonya Massey, and an abundance of love and power to Sonya’s family on this journey.”
According to court documents, two Sangamon County deputies responded to Massey’s Springfield home after midnight after she called 911 to report a possible “prowler” at her house.
When Massey goes to the stove to turn off the boiling water, Deputy Sean Grayson and another deputy speak calmly to her. As she picks up the pot, the other deputy steps back, “away from your hot steaming water.”
Massey replied to the deputies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,”
“Huh?” the Deputy Grayson says.
“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” she repeats.
“You better f**king not or I swear to God I’ll f**king shoot you in the f**king face,” Grayson says.
As the deputy draws his firearm, Massey says while lifting the pot, “I’m sorry”
“Drop the f**king pot!” both deputies yell.
Three shots are heard in the video, One of the deputies says “Shots fired.” Then the officer calls for emergency medical services.
Deputy Grayson could be heard in the footage saying, “Dude, I’m not taking f**king boiling water to the f**king head. And look, it came right to our feet, too.”
Then Grayson says to the other officer, “She had boiling water and came at me with boiling water. She said she was going to rebuke me in the name of Jesus and came at (me) with boiling water.”
Deputies have been charged with Massey’s death on three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of official misconduct. Grayson pleads not guilty.
Attorney Ben Crump will be representing Massey’s father in the case. The two appeared on TMZ Live on Wednesday to discuss the shooting.
After her tweet on Massey, Solange shared a 2015 video of Sandra Bland, the Texas woman who died in jail following a contentious police stop, to illustrate the ongoing issue of police brutality towards Black women. Solange’s music frequently addresses social justice, making her vocal stance on this issue expected and supported online.
More as the story develops.