Riverdaleactor Cole Sprouse revealed on Instagram that he was arrested after participating in a peaceful protest in Santa Monica, California.
Many major United States cities have seen protests after the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody after an officer put his knee into Floyd’s neck.
Santa Monica had a 4 p.m. curfew put in place on Sunday, but when Sprouse and other protesters tried to leave and go home they were met with more police officers who then proceeded to detain them with zip ties. Sprouse ended his lengthy post by saying that he did not wish to say anymore about the arrest because he did not want to distract from the main message of the protests.
Sprouse’s post read, “A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica. So before the voracious horde of media sensationalism decides to somehow turn it about me, there’s a clear need to speak about the circumstances: Black Lives Matter. Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. the media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda.”
He later explained his personal experience, “I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement.”
Sprouse then went on to say why he chose to share what he did. He said, “This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such. This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing. This is precisely the time to contemplate what it means to stand as an ally. I hope others in my position do as well. I noticed that there are cameras that roll within the police cruisers during the entirety of our detainment, hope it helps. I’ll speak no more on the subject, as I’m (1) not well versed enough to do so, (2) not the subject of the movement, and (3) uninterested in drawing attention away from the leaders of the #BLM movement. I will be, again, posting the link in my story to a comprehensive document for donations and support.”
Other celebrities such as Nick Cannon, Ariana Grande and Halsey have also been joining in the protests and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Many across the country have been participating in Black Out Tuesday, a day dedicated to pausing normal life and focusing on social and political change.
