Artists Mourn the Death of Oluwatoyin Salau

Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau, a 19-year-old Black Lives Matter protester from Tallahassee, Fla., was found dead after she tweeted about being sexually assaulted and went missing for a week.

The hashtag #JusticeForToyin began trending when photos and videos of Salau, a recent high school graduate, speaking passionately on the frontlines of the Florida protests made the rounds on Twitter, where she previously detailed her sexual assault from June 6. The public outcry from musicians on both Twitter and Instagram speaks twofold to the failure and commitment to protect Black women.

Kehlani poignantly called out those who discredit and neglect female sexual assault survivors as part of her lengthy Instagram post dedicated to Salau. “You see the direct outcome of your lack of support for women, especially Black women, who need help? who need protection. who need to be believed,” the R&B crooner wrote. “This is for all of us, Toyin’s story is tragically the story of way too many we don’t know the names of. ones we pass on the street everyday. we really have to do fuckin better at supporting eachother.”

Common called on his 5.4 million Twitter followers to give credit where it’s due when it comes to who’s leading these movements defending the livelihood of Black people yet who’s constantly underestimated and unsafe. “#JusticeForToyin: She spent the last days of her life fighting for justice for her people. It shouldn’t be lost on us that Black Women have been at the forefront of these Movements,” the rapper wrote. “We have to stand up against violence happening to our Black Women and Girls. God Bless her soul.”

Scroll through the stars’ grief-stricken posts below.

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Oluwatoyin Salau. Young beautiful queen rest peacefully and in power. I’m furious. I’m heartbroken. You deserved protection. This is too painful

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Shaughn you are one of the sweetest angels I know. These words are beautiful. Rest in heaven Toyin. I’ll fight for your name forever. #blackwomenmatter

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after fighting on the frontlines endlessly for Black lives, Oluwatoyin Salau tweeted a detailed description of being sexually assaulted by a man who offered her a place to sleep. she was seeking refuge from abuse at home. shortly after tweeting her experience, Toyin went missing for days. last night they found her body. you see the direct outcome of your lack of support for women, especially Black women, who need help? who need protection. who need to be believed. i’m talking to you, the person who’s immediate response to a woman coming out about assault with disbelief, interrogation, mockery, “why now”, “you want clout”. to those that scroll past Black women’s goFundMe’s titled “trying to escape my abusive home” by CHOICE, not because you don’t have the means to help. this is for you, the family member who silently watches assault take place IN YOUR FAMILY and does absolutely nothing about it (by choice). i’m talking to you, the person that remains friends with/stands by/supports abusive men… y’all will defend your rapey ass friends till the death. accuse women of deserving it. of asking for it. they couldn’t have possibly BEEN ASSAULTED. this is for all of us, Toyin’s story is tragically the story of way too many we don’t know the names of. ones we pass on the street everyday. we really have to do fuckin better at supporting eachother. Toyin’s life could’ve been saved at home. Toyin’s life could’ve been saved when she escaped and needed somewhere to stay. we ache for you, Oluwatoyin Salau. say her NAME. HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE IF THIS APPLIES TO YOU AND STRAIGHTEN THE FUCK UP.

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