Chance the Rapper is coming to the defense of protesters across the nation.
The Chicago MC took to Twitter on Saturday (May 30) to address protests in Los Angeles, New York, San Jose, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., where citizens are flooding the streets over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
“If you hold a pen at a publication, this is the time be carefully intent with your words. Do not demonize the people that are being beat and battered in the streets,” Chance wrote. “Damaging property is not violent. But the actions of the state have been. It must be documented justly.”
Earlier this week, a video of Floyd’s death surfaced showing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Floyd for eight minutes. Chauvin was later charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Floyd.
Some of the protests over Floyd’s death have resulted in property damage, looting and traffic disruption, while many others have been peaceful.
One Twitter user challenged Chance’s post, replying, “Destruction is literally violence, you can’t make up your own definition of violence. There’s been violence on both sides, police and the protesters.”
Chance thoughtfully responded, noting, “You want it to be good and bad people on both sides but its not that simple. There are people on one side that have weapons, training and military power and the other side that have nothing but but pain and rage. Civilians on the street can not reciprocate the violence imparted.”
Chance the Rapper joins a long list of celebrities speaking out after Floyd’s death, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Ice Cube, Ariana Grande and others.