Beyoncé on Alton Sterling, Philando Castile's deaths: 'This is a human fight'

In the wake of the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police in Baton Rouge and Minnesota, Beyoncé issued a statement on Thursday with a powerful message: "The war on people of color and all minorities needs to be over."

"We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities," the singer wrote in a statement on her website. "It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they 'stop killing us.' We don't need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives."

Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, was shot to death by a police outside of a convenience store in Baton Rouge. Not even 48 hours later, 32-year-old Castile was shot by police in Falcon Heights, Minnesota during a routine traffic stop. Videos from both incidents quickly went viral, sparking outrage online and protests in both cities. Sterling's death is being investigated by the Department of Justice, and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has requested a federal investigation into Castile's death. 

Beyoncé has been an active voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly since the release of "Formation," which she performed at the Super Bowl with backup dancers dressed in uniforms that evoked the Black Panther Party. 

Her message on Thursday was a call to action for not just black Americans, but "anyone who feels marginalized." 

"We're going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violent action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished. These robberies of lives make us feel helpless and hopeless but we have to believe that we are fighting for the rights of the next generation, for the next young men and women who believe in good."

Read her full statement -- which also includes info on how to contact your representatives --  here.