The Emmett Till family’s campaign to see action taken against Lil Wayne found success yesterday when Mountain Dew dropped Lil Wayne as a sponsor. Today, the Till family reacts publicly to the news and now hopes to put the saga behind them.

According to AllHipHop, Airickca Gordon-Taylor, Executive Director of Mamie Till Mobley Foundation, made the following statement in reaction to the news.

“Back in February, when I first heard the lyrics, I was in utter shock, disappointment and sadness. Just as Mamie Till Mobley didn’t endure the pain of losing Emmett Till alone, many people have stood in solidarity with our family, even if it wasn’t the most popular stand to take.

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“The road less traveled is surely not the easiest but standing for your principles provides the endurance needed to fight for human and civil rights. This decision was monumental, we commend Mountain Dew for taking action towards better social responsibility, and now I finally feel that we can exhale and focus on our beloved Mamie Till Mobley’s charge… Let’s get on with the business of positive thinking and living.”

Simeon Wright, an eyewitness to the kidnapping of Emmett Till also made a statement in reaction to the news.

“This is beyond my expectations, I’m pleased that it happened and it shouldn’t waited for public outcry. Anything that belittles or degrades the memory of Emmett Till shouldn’t be in the public square,” He said. “Racism is still out there. Whatever you listen too, whatever you do, get an education. ‘Don’t let this system destroy you.’”

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Mountain Dew responded to the lyrics in a statement, calling them an “offensive reference to a revered civil rights icon does not reflect the values of our brand.”

Thursday, a Till family spokesperson said that Lil Wayne’s statement “falls short of an apology.” On Wednesday, Wayne made an official apology to the Till family in a public statement.

The whole controversy surrounds lyrics that Lil Wayne made on Future’s “Karate Chop (Remix)” in which Wayne rapped that he “beat the pussy up like Emmett Till,” referring to the 1955 beating and subsequent murder of a Mississippi teenager for allegedly flirting with a White woman.

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RELATED:Mountain Dew Drops Lil Wayne Over Emmett Till Lyric