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Run the Jewels' Killer Mike delivers emotional speech to Atlanta protesters

The rapper and activist spoke at the Atlanta Mayor's press conference

Killer Mike has delivered an emotional speech to Atlanta protestors, urging for peace and calm amid the violence.

Rapper and activist Killer Mike, who makes up one half of duo Run The Jewels, addressed Atlanta protestors during the Atlanta Mayor's press conference on Friday night (29th May). The speech was in response to protests which have began since the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man from Minnesota who was killed by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, on Monday 25th May. Footage of the arrest shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, ignoring him as he repeatedly pleads, “I can’t breathe”.

Beginning his speech by announcing respect for law enforcement, including his own family members, Mike addressed the protestors, stating he is "duty-bound to be here to simply say: That it is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house, so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization. And now is the time to plot, plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize."

"That’s why children are burning it to the ground. They don’t know what else to do. And it is the responsibility of us to make this better right now. We don’t want to see one officer charged, we want to see four officers prosecuted and sentenced. We don’t want to see targets burning, we want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burnt to the ground."

You can watch Killer Mike's eight-minute speech below.  

Electronic artists and fans are among the hundreds to have donated to organisations and funds in aid of protesters in Minneapolis and black community initiatives following the killing of George Floyd.

Below, you will find some links to organisations/fundraisers you can donate to:

The George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

Black Visions Collective (BLVC): https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

#JusticeforFloyd: https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis

The Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate

Black Lives Matter: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

Reclaim the Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2