Meghan Markle gave an important graduation ceremony at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, where she once attended, in which she condemned the police killings of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Stephon Clark, and other black men. In a speech (opens in new tab) first reported by Essence (opens in new tab), she recalled her own childhood memories of the Los Angeles Uprising against the vicious beating of Rodney King by LAPD officers in 1992, and she called on leaders to fight racism and She called on Immaculate Heart alumni to become leaders in the fight against police brutality.

"I didn't know what to say. I wanted to say the right thing, and I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to do so or that I would be torn apart.

"When I was 11 or 12, just about to enter Immaculate Heart Middle School in the fall, there were the Los Angeles riots. And I can't imagine having to go through a different version of that same experience at 17 or 18, which is the age you are now. That's something you have to understand, but you have to understand it as a history lesson, not as your reality. So, in a way, I am sorry that I have not let the world get to where you should have been." [Sometimes people say, 'How many times do we have to rebuild,' but we are going to rebuild, rebuild, rebuild until we rebuild. If the foundation is broken, we will be broken too." We will lead with love, we will lead with compassion, and we will use our voices."

Watch Meghan's full speech below:

The 2020 Immaculate Heart High School graduate.

I have been meaning to say a few words to you over the past few weeks as you prepare for your graduation ceremonies. As we all saw last week, what is happening in our country, in our state, and in our hometown of L.A. is utterly devastating. And I didn't know what to say to you guys. I wanted to say the right thing, and I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to do so or that I would be torn apart. George Floyd's life matters, Breanna Taylor's life matters, Philando Castile's life matters, Tamir Rice's life matters. Stephon Clark, his life mattered.

And I was thinking about when I was a sophomore in high school. I was 15 years old. As you know, being a sophomore in high school is the year to do volunteer work, which is a prerequisite for graduation. I remember my homeroom teacher at the time, Mrs. Polia, saying to me before I went to volunteer:" Always remember to put the needs of others before your own concerns". And those words have stayed with me throughout my life, and last week I thought about them more than ever.

So first of all I want to say I am sorry. I am so sorry that you have to grow up in a world where these things still exist. When I was 11 or 12 years old, just as I was about to enter Immaculate Heart Middle School in the fall, the Los Angeles riots broke out. I remember the curfew being imposed. And I remember rushing home and seeing the ashes falling from the sky, smelling the smoke, and seeing the smoke rising from the buildings on the way to my house. I remember pulling up in front of my house and the tree that was always there was completely charred. That memory will never go away

and I can't imagine having to go through a different version of the same experience at the age of 17 or 18, which is your age now. But that is something to be understood as a history lesson, not as your reality. So, in a way, I regret that we didn't let the world get to where you were meant to be

Another thing I remember about those days is how united people were. And now we are witnessing it. The sheriff in Michigan and the police chief in Virginia were like that. People are solidarity. We are seeing communities coming together and rising up. And you will be part of this movement.

I know this is not the graduation ceremony you have envisioned. And this is not the celebration you have imagined. But I also know that there are ways in which we can re-capture this for you. Instead of seeing this as the end of something, we see it as the beginning of the utilization of all the work, all the values, all the skills that you have embodied over the past four years. Now all that work is activated. Now you will be part of the rebuilding. Some may say, "How many times do we have to rebuild?" but we will rebuild upon rebuilding, and we will continue to rebuild until the rebuilding is complete. For if the foundation is broken, we are broken.

You will lead with love, you will lead with compassion, and you will use your voice. You are going to make your voice stronger than ever. Because most of you are 18, or will be 18, and you will vote. Because the teachings of Immaculate Heart are diverse, vibrant, open-minded, and know that Black lives matter. So I am already excited about what you are going to do in the world. You are ready. We are ready. We need you. [I am so proud to call each and every one of you alumni and I am so excited about what you are going to do. I will be rooting for you all the way. I am exceptionally proud of all of you. And as the leaders we all deeply covet, I want to congratulate you on this day, the beginning of all the impact you will have on the world. Congratulations.