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Future Islands, Vic Mensa, Killer Mike & Other Musicians React To Baltimore Riots

A state of emergency has been declared in the US city of Baltimore as violent riots broke out after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died after his spinal cord was severed while in police custody.

Two weeks after his death, tensions between Baltimore police and the city’s population have reached boiling point and after a day of peaceful protests, violent riots and fires have broken out across the city with the mayor calling in the US national guard for assistance and implementing a curfew after 10pm for residents.

Many musicians have taken to social media to comment on the situation in Baltimore, similar to other riots that occurred across the US recently following accusations of police brutality against black citizens, most notably a grand jury’s decision not to pursue charges against police officer Darren Wilson who shot and killed 18-year-old unarmed black teenager Mike Brown.

Some have even likened Monday’s riots to those witnessed after the 1968 assassination of civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King, who was killed in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Don’t you understand? We’re tired of being murdered in the street like dogs. How many times can you be shot at before you shoot back?” wrote Vic Mensa in response to the riots. “Maybe the aggression is misdirected. But you can’t say it’s unwarranted.”

Baltimore natives Future Islands wrote that “Police sparked this situation”, telling followers, “We must educate ourselves to find truth. Be strong and be safe. They will lie to you. From oppression comes revolution comes evolution.”

As an outspoken authority on race relations, rapper Killer Mike also commented on the riots, telling followers, “Repression breeds rebellion. U wanna stop riots? Stop poverty. Stop systemic racism. Stop Police Murder. Stop the war on Black men! This what is causing riots! Built up anger and rage!”

“Dr King called riots the language of they oppressed. Wanna stop them, u focus on oppression, not the rioters,” echoed Talib Kweli, while Freddie Gibbs implored Baltimore residents to act peacefully. “We don’t need an excuse for them to kill another one of us,” he said.

Singer Kelly Rowland simply shared a message saying she is “Praying for Baltimore”, posted alongside an image of an unarmed black man on his knees with his hands held over his head.

See reactions from other members of the music community below.

https://twitter.com/VicMensa/status/592844753043124224

https://twitter.com/VicMensa/status/592869268246659072

https://twitter.com/VicMensa/status/592869579367546880

https://twitter.com/VicMensa/status/592872138941542400

https://twitter.com/VicMensa/status/592873563872452608

https://instagram.com/p/1_afNIy1AZ/

https://instagram.com/p/1_-ScRS1Nk/

https://instagram.com/p/2AK2x5S1GB/

https://instagram.com/p/2AK2VtBmHI/

https://twitter.com/Raury/status/592881183056330752

https://twitter.com/Raury/status/592886507368783872

https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/592311490733936640

https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/592725284622831617

https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/592846994474967041

https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/592854702905270273

https://twitter.com/flea333/status/592887824464117762

https://twitter.com/flea333/status/592900256821616640

https://twitter.com/devhynes/status/592809904206917632

https://twitter.com/devhynes/status/592809983441506305

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