Pearl Thusi ready to organise a local #BlackLivesMatter protest against police brutality

Actress Pearl Thusi is gatvol of black lives being taken by police brutality and is ready to organise a local protest to try make a change.

The Queen Sono star, like thousands of others, watched in horror as a video showing a white US police officer with his knee on George Floyd's neck went viral last week.

Protests erupted around the world under the banner “Black Lives Matter” and Pearl was keen to start her own march in Mzansi against local brutality.

She applauded South Africans who posted messages of solidarity and awareness about the movement but said it was time to take to the streets.

“As South Africans, over and above posting/creating awareness, are there any plans to protest /speak out on how our police killed people?”

While many were keen to assist, even sharing details of planned protests, one tweep suggested that South Africans first look at their own xenophobia.

Pearl said that it should not be a case of one or the other and that “both must be dealt with”.

She went on to explain that anyone who encourages hate against their fellow Africans but welcomed European or Asian immigrants suffered toxic self-hate.

“If anyone reading this encourages harm towards African nationals yet have never attacked or complained about Europeans or Asians who have immigrated here, you suffer from a self-hate that is poisonous. Afrophobia, you hate your own people, an expression of self-hate.”

She offered words of encouragement to those protesting, saying that the road to making a change is a difficult one.

“Change is tough and when you try to be the change you want to see in the world, people will resist, sometimes react and attack you. Trust your convictions. Tire them. One day, they’ll finally join you. The world needs change. Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Her comments come just days after music group Mi Casa shared a post in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, listing people who had died allegedly at the hands of SA police under lockdown.

“These names you see here are not just names, these are people killed by those we've entrusted to protect us. To the leaders of our country — stand, speak up and take action. This cannot continue. We have so much to lose if we break the unity we have so long worked to build!” they wrote in the post.