JAY-Z Reaches Out to Minnesota Governor, Issues Statement on George Floyd

Governor Tim Walz spoke about the conversation in a press conference on Sunday.

During a press conference on Sunday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz revealed he'd got an unexpected phone call. According to Walz, JAY-Z reached out to discuss the death of George Floyd.

"I received a call last night--to understand how big this was--from JAY-Z," Walz said. "Not [as an] international performer but dad stressing to me that justice needs to be served."

Through his label Roc Nation, Jay released a statement detailing his feelings about the case, as well as his conversation with Walz. He thanked Walz for appointing Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over the case. Read the full statement below.

"I," Jay wrote, "along with an entire country in pain, call upon AG Ellison to do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd...this is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have."

Over the weekend, Derek Chauvin, the officer seen kneeling on Floyd's neck, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Hennepin County's attorney says more charges against the other three officers are possible.

"It was so incredibly human," Walz said of the conversation. "It was a dad--and I think quite honestly a black man whose visceral pain of this that he knew. His words summarized that justice needs to be served here."

Stay tuned for further updates regarding Chauvin's trial, and further arrests.