The protests raged on all across the country and the world for a third day, yesterday, May 30th, as the world reacted to the death of George Floyd. Floyd was stopped by police after a bad check, and the restrained and put on the ground with the knee of the arresting officer on his neck. After numerous pleas for help, saying he couldn't breathe, and begging for water, video footage shows the life slowly leaving his body. Three officers stood guard and watched it happen. The haunting footage led to protests for the arrest of Derek Chauvin, who has been taken into custody. All the officers involved have been fired.
The entire world is reacting and the rock and metal world is no different, with many chiming in, and perhaps none more vocal that Body Count frontman Ice-T, somebody who does not shy away from political messages. Some of his recent tweets include:
They Killed another Brother.. On Video. https://t.co/RnuUqfU5o8
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 26, 2020
See the problem… https://t.co/Jhmkd3vv6H
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 26, 2020
They are actually protesting in BERLIN GERMANY… Our Police behavior has become a Global embarrassment.. wow. https://t.co/wYCmtnkJgF
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 30, 2020
People are saying.. They should protest like this or demonstrate like that… We tried Taking a Knee… A RIOT is a RIOT.. It happens when the people can no longer take the BS..
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 30, 2020
If YOU don’t understand why ALL these people are Revolting. You’re possibly part of the problem..
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 30, 2020
If you ask me.. All I want is JUSTICE. Some fair treatment and some Respect for people.. Is that possible??? Right now, people are enraged. We’ll see how this plays out.. But you were warned, many times.. ??
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 31, 2020
Thank you my Brother! Say no more… ?? https://t.co/sXWGxMaiIb
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 31, 2020
Here is a collection of other musicians and artists that have spoken up:
To listen. It is a time to share perspectives & perceptions with him. Your son needs to know that you are there for him-to help prepare him to deal with racism as a multi-tiered institutional system, & most of all, have a GREAT LIFE. In UTTER DEFIANCE OF IT’S OBJECTIVES
— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) May 31, 2020
The Cause …. The Climate…….The Cops ….The Crowd …. = The Conditions #GeorgeFloydprotest pic.twitter.com/wBkIKFCeNP
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) May 31, 2020
#Thugs https://t.co/pLL2xzpYi2
— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) May 31, 2020
Yelling “All Lives Matter” as you pull back an arrow with intent to take a life is peak irony. https://t.co/qkB2IfNP6m
— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) May 31, 2020
You want to do something. But you don’t even know where to start.
Start here:
How to Support Protesters in Every City https://t.co/OZwf2fb5Q0
— Rise Against (@riseagainst) May 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/KristNovoselic/status/1266914134970359809
I am angry, horrified, ashamed and have been trying to put my thoughts into words all day. Evil abuses of power and…
Posted by Amy Lee on Friday, May 29, 2020
Trying to stay in a space of Gratitude and Mindfulness….but it’s really fucking difficult today.
I don’t even recognize my own country anymore.#FuckRacism
— Mark Morton (@MarkDuaneMorton) May 29, 2020
Theres a lot of beauty in the world…SO much to be thankful for. I try hard to stay grateful & centered.
At the same time, Im heart broken & angry. Appalled & disgusted at whats happening in my country that I LOVE so much.
I wish I knew what I could do to be part of a solution.— Mark Morton (@MarkDuaneMorton) May 29, 2020
Perhaps true….however, when an entire segment of society is being systematically attacked with no effective means of recourse or justice, “taking care” of that community will eventually involve people protecting & defending themselves…by any means necessary. https://t.co/Sly2f84R6a
— Mark Morton (@MarkDuaneMorton) May 29, 2020
Silence in the face of injustice & blind compliance to authority arent patriotic, nor are they honorable.
My disgust with where we are as a nation is testimony to my belief in what we’re truly about. People died for my right to speak out, not for reverence of an inanimate symbol. https://t.co/j3IMGuPZCW— Mark Morton (@MarkDuaneMorton) May 30, 2020
These are some crazy fucking pics. https://t.co/710sNitdQ3
— PhilThatRemains on youtube, IG, Twitch #BLM ?️? (@philthatremains) May 31, 2020
It’s time to rename this country to the DSA…the Divided States Of America. Truly sad… ? https://t.co/ybkzAEi9ZC
— Mike Portnoy ? (@MikePortnoy) May 31, 2020
This is America 2020 ? https://t.co/abiz6bkWkY
— Mike Portnoy ? (@MikePortnoy) May 31, 2020
What’s going on in this country right now is despicable…but strangely enough, I’m not shocked by it…Sadly I think it’s been leading to this for a while now…the US people have just reached a boiling point. This HAS to stop ? https://t.co/ujFkmBBP5w
— Mike Portnoy ? (@MikePortnoy) May 31, 2020
… if you see a pile of bricks mysteriously stacked up on a corner #setup don’t throw them into the window of someones business #assholes #Protestpeacefully We R angry- channel that anger and make a change -What does looting have to do with the death of #GeorgeFloyd ? #freeshit
— Charlie Benante (@skisum) May 31, 2020
I’m with you all the way, that’s not at all what I’m saying. The protesters are being outnumbered by the rioters, that’s all https://t.co/r8EviRGn17
— Charlie Benante (@skisum) May 31, 2020
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond TutuWe stand for justice and equality for all. Enough is enough.
Posted by Korn on Saturday, May 30, 2020
— Ben Bruce (@benjaminbruce) May 30, 2020
I shit my pants any time I see a cop. My heart goes to my throat. Get far away from me.
— Trevor Strnad (@TrevorTBDM) May 31, 2020
This display of ignorance is astounding, yet woefully unsurprising. I have no words. Racism is unbelievable, in the truest sense of the word. We cant let those who use this for personal gain break our spirits. Create. Breathe. To not let it break us is a rebellious act in itself.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) May 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/RILEY_CYRUS/status/1266942336745058304
https://twitter.com/RILEY_CYRUS/status/1267047329653297152
https://twitter.com/RILEY_CYRUS/status/1266944261943111681
https://twitter.com/RILEY_CYRUS/status/1266951180514623489
You never go full Hunger Games https://t.co/i9YOxtIGs5
— Jamey Jasta (@jameyjasta) May 31, 2020
from death to protest to riot to revolution to change to life
— keith buckley (@deathoftheparty) May 31, 2020
That being said I think the best thing I can do right now is not give continual commentary and opinion on what’s happening but to listen instead and keep the feed less cluttered so information and voices that do need to get through right now can
— Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 31, 2020
Love is the only thing that negates hate. The time is now! #change
— Lzzy Hale (@LZZYHALE) May 31, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsocqGht3u/?utm_source=ig_embed
This is straight up unicorn shit. The kind of talk you never, ever, never, ever see: https://t.co/PNGkRDOuzi
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) May 29, 2020
Theres no justification for the senseless & brutal killing of George Floyd & it’s truly heartbreaking to see that something this egregious continues to happen in our country. So many live without the promise of justice, peace and equality & that’s not acceptable. We must change.
— Andy Biersack (@andyblack) May 28, 2020
Hey, Beloveds…I can’t dig into the light hearted stuff tonight…I’m sure you’ve seen or heard of the riots throughout the US…truly dark, tragic days…I send our love to you & yours, wherever you are & we’ve wish you well in all things…XXX
❤️❌❤️???❤️❌❤️???✌️✌️✌️? pic.twitter.com/mfwmNulS5c— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) May 31, 2020
I don’t want you guys to argue, I don’t want to divide you guys. I’m also not advocating this type of protest. Just asking more questions then “what’s the point of tearing up a target” when I see something like this response from an enraged community with zero examples of justice
— Noah Sebastian (@noahsebastian) May 28, 2020
Rest in Peace George Floyd. https://t.co/0JT8870DfW
— The Story So Far (@thestorysofarca) May 28, 2020
people gonna burn America down over these cops killing people.
— RonnieRadke (@RonnieRadke) May 28, 2020
George Floyd
— Stray From The Path (@strayfromdapath) May 27, 2020
No matter what you think of any news platform, this is fascism. https://t.co/C9LDNyOhgm
— Geoffrey Rickly (@GeoffRickly) May 29, 2020
It is 2020 and police officers are killing people in public, in broad daylight, because they are black. We stand against any and all injustice and we stand with #GeorgeFloyd
Sign this petition: https://t.co/9efzrzKuqG
Donate to the following: https://t.co/h07EArscDw
— Neck Deep (@NeckDeepUK) May 29, 2020
I asked a friend of mine that is black . He hangs with white metal dudes. He dresses like a rock guy. I asked him “ truthfully you hang with a mostly white crowd have you ever been harassed by cops?” He told me all the time. Truth is we don’t know what oppression feels like
— Rev. Riki Rachtman (@RikiRachtman) May 31, 2020
