Cole Sprouse Speaks on His Arrest During a Santa Monica Protest
International protests in response to the police killing of George Floyd continue, and as many celebrities begin to get involved, Cole Sprouse has shared that he was detained during a recent protest in Santa Monica, California.
On Monday, June 1, the Riverdale star shared an Instagram post of a Black Lives Matter graphic and explained what he had witnessed. “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,” he wrote. “When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us.”
Cole was quick to note that despite what had happened to him, he didn't feel that his arrest should be the focus. “As a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement. This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such," he wrote.
He encouraged others to contemplate their roles as allies, and said that he would speak no further on the subject, as he wished for the focus to remain on the Black Lives Matter movement. “Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest," he wrote. “The media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda.”
The decision for Cole to speak out and show up comes as other white celebrities also begin to use their platforms for change. While some white celebrities have taken their time in sharing public responses and acknowledging racism, it's important for fans not to wait on their favorites to speak up. We all have a role to play.
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the *Teen Vogue* daily email.
Want more from *Teen Vogue*? Check this out: Ariana Grande, Halsey, and More Celebrities Protest George Floyd's Death
