Chris Rock, cast of 'Top Five' talk Michael Brown, Eric Garner
theGRIO REPORT - Chris Rock and the cast of his upcoming film Top Five opened up to theGrio, sharing their thoughts and feelings on two recent grand jury decisions not to indict white police officers for the deaths of unarmed black men.
Chris Rock and the cast of his upcoming film Top Five opened up to theGrio, sharing their thoughts and feelings on two recent grand jury decisions not to indict white police officers for the deaths of unarmed black men.
On November 24 a Ferguson grand jury announced they would not be charging officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in August. The decision sparked riots around the country and generated a serious discussion on police tactics and race in America.
Just nine days later, a Staten Island grand jury announced they would not indict Daniel Pantaleo, the white NYPD officer who killed Eric Garner, an unarmed black man. The officer used an illegal chokehold in an attempt to subdue Garner during an arrest for selling untaxed cigarettes. Not only was the entire incident caught on camera, but the medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide.
Hours after the December 3 decision, theGrio talked to Top Five cast members at the New York premiere.
St. Louis native Cedric The Entertainer called the decisions “disheartening,” adding that “the citizens feel like they’re under attack, so we got to fix that.”
“It’s just sad,” said Chris Rock. “The thing’s on videotape. I don’t know how you could have any more evidence than that, but I don’t think it’s over yet.”
Fellow comedian Bruce Bruce offered advice to protesters. “The key thing is, people got to understand you can’t just tear your city up and loot and set everything on fire and go around hurting people. That’s not right. Unify yourself, get some leadership, do it properly and do it like it’s supposed to be done.”
“It makes no sense,” said Top Five co-star Hayley Marie Norman. The actress added that she would like to see President Obama step forward on this issue and said change needs to happen now. “It can’t keep happening, and if police officers are allowed to continue getting away with murder then it’s just going to keep happening. So, something has to change, and it has to happen now.”
Ben Vereen said that both sides need to “curtail” their behavior. “We as a society must work together.”
Top Five was written and directed by Rock. It hit theaters nationwide December 12.
Follow theGrio’s Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.Â
