Kerry Washington Speaks Out Against Police Violence: ‘My Heart Aches’

Not since a new episode of Scandal have we seen Kerry Washington tweet this much – and there are emotional reasons why.

The actress, who recently welcomed her second child, son Caleb Kelechi Asomugha, took to Twitter on Saturday to “rant” about certain things on her mind as of late. “It’s a quiet Saturday afternoon. So, a few things I wanna get off my chest,” Washington, 39, began her series of tweets.

First, the mother of two thanked her four million followers for all the love and support she received after giving birth to Caleb on Oct. 5. “I saw all your very kind & thoughtful congratulatory tweets. So yeah we thank you. Xo,” she wrote along with a heart eye emoji.

And then things took a more serious turn when Washington mentioned the name of a 66-year-old Bronx woman who was reportedly shot and killed at her apartment Tuesday by a uniformed New York Police Department sergeant.

“The loss of #DeborahDanner has rattled my core. Not only becuz of painful truth that we must continue to affirm that#BlackLivesMatter,” Washington tweeted. “But also becuz #DeborahDanner was killed in the community where I was raised. Community filled w/people I know & love. So when I#sayhername,” she wrote in another tweet.

After her neighbors called 911 to report that she was acting erratically, Danner, who reportedly suffered from mental illness, charged the police officer with a bat. Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Chief James O’Neill have condemned the gunfire and promised a thorough investigation, according to local reports.

“My heart aches. For lives lost and for the lives we must protect. For the humanity we must work to illuminate and preserve and affirm. #BLM,” Washington wrote.

Lastly, she promoted the critically acclaimed Moonlight, a coming-of-age film centered around LGBT issues. “ALSO. Go see @moonlightmov this weekend. It is artful food for your soul. At a time when so many of us need to be lovingly nourished,” she recommended.

“End of rant XOXOXOXOX,” Washington concluded.

This article originally appeared on People.com