MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 29: Protesters face off with police near the Third Police Precinct on May 29, ... [+]
The death of George Floyd—a 46-year-old Black man who was pinned to the ground by a white Minnesota police officer’s knee on his neck—has sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the country. As protesters mount new frontlines for justice against police brutality, music artists are using their social media platforms for education on the situation, conversation and donations.
Chicago artist Noname tweeted on May 27 that she gave $1,000 to the Minnesota Freedom Fund. She challenged fellow celebrity accounts to match her donation. Thus far, the tweet has over 4,000 retweets. Many prominent artists have matched her donation and shared the message, including 6BLACK, Kehlani, Rico Nasty, Janelle Monáe, Aminé and many more.
12-year-old gospel artist Keedron Bryant posted a video on Instagram with chilling vocals matching an utterly powerful protest song. He sang, “I’m a young Black man, doing all that I can to stand. Oh, but when I look around, and I see what’s being done to my kind. Everyday, I’m being haunted as prey. My people don’t want no trouble, we’ve had enough struggle. I just wanna live. God protect me. I just wanna live. I just wanna live.”
Cardi B discussed her frustrations and views on looting in a recent Twitter video. “As much as people is so against [looting], at this point, I feel I’m not against it even though it do scare me, and I don’t want anybody to get hurt,” she said. “Police brutality been going on even way before I was born, but it has been more visual ever since social media” amplified visibility.
“How many peaceful protests have we seen? How many trending hashtags have we seen? These hashtags keep freaking repeating them self,” Cardi B said. “People are tired. Now this is what people have to resort to.”
“Bloody Sunday” is trending on Twitter in the U.S. with over 40,000 tweets. In 1965, the infamous Selma March involved civil rights protesters peacefully marching for voting rights while crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Nonetheless, state troopers released dogs, horses, nightsticks and more upon protesters, marking the march with bloodshed. Twitter users are remembering this in the context of today’s Black Lives Matter protests.
Despite dangers of the looming pandemic, protesters have braved the streets, risking their health for justice. Additional protest music and messages from artists are sure to come. The New York Times has live updates on protests across the country. The Minnesota Freedom Fund is accepting donations here. Floyd’s family is accepting contributions to his memorial fund on GoFundMe.
