T.I. and Killer Mike, two men who’ve been vocal in demands for justice in not only the death of George Floyd but that of Breonna Taylor in Lousiville, Kentucky and countless others, took to Instagram to voice their frustrations after a Black man was shot and killed by Atlanta police on Friday (June 12).
“Won’t post that video because I believe a part of us dies every time we watch it… but understand this. I AM NOT CONDONING ANY INJUSTICE towards OUR PEOPLE!!” T.I. wrote. “Been gathering facts & working on solutions since last night… THIS AIN’T THE ATLANTA I KNOW!! We demand JUSTICE!!”
Killer Mike echoed T.I.’s sentiments. “#RayshardBrooks should be alive this morning,” he wrote on Instagram. “He should be waking up (hungover or drunk in the tank depending on whether he was apprehended) and not dead. I am mad as hell and saddened beyond consolation.”
Both rappers have been vocal about Atlanta police and the community-at-large in the wake of recent protests and riots in May 2020. On May 29, the two appeared along with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to deliver an impassioned plea for Atlantians to not destroy the city.
Killer Mike Tears Up Addressing Atlanta Riots: 'It's Your Duty Not To Burn Your Own House Down'
The fatal shooting was captured on cellphone video and shared on social media.
Per the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, officers were called to the restaurant located on University Avenue after receiving a complaint about a man asleep in his vehicle, prompting other customers to go around him to get their food at the window. The man, identified as Brooks, was given a field sobriety test which he failed according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Brooks reportedly struggled with officers after they attempted to arrest him. He was seen on video running away from the police when officers fired, striking him in the back. He died at the hospital.
Following the shooting, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned on Saturday (June 13) and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms called for the officer who shot and killed Brooks to be fired.
News of Brooks’ death and the video spread along social media as many woke up to the news and gave their reactions.
R.I.P Rayshard Brooks. He didn’t deserve to die under such circumstances. The police used excessive force in the situation. It is also important to note that he contributed to his own demise by making poor choices. You can be drunk and get behind the wheel. You can’t run from the law if you have nothing to hide. You can’t afford to complacent when there are racist cops lurking. Part of the recovery from George Floyd’s situation and reducing or preventing it from happe ing again is being honest with each other. I’m sad to say that our brother put himself in harms way.
“he contributed to his own demise by making poor choices.” No! There should be NO “demise scenario” in this situation. Especially getting shot in the back? Nah. everything here was indeed Unlawful, Unconstitutional and Unacceptable.
Unconstitutional? That would encompass a FAIR TRIAL, right, like what the COPS WON’T GET? LOL. The video of him being shot isn’t posted here. Strange. Also, if you haven’t been convicted of 5 felonies and aren’t passing a bad check, the odds of ending up dead by police are slim to none. It was wrong what the cops did in both cases, IMO. Still, no accountability? Committing crimes is a great way to have cops FUCK YOU UP. Maybe just OBEY THE LAW?
Like George Floyd??
Depends on if he had a counterfeit 20! I will say that for 10 years he lead a crime filled life. Sometimes shit just catches up…
Trent, don’t let your anger blind you from the truth! You’ve rushed to speak about that which is “unconstitutional, unlawful and unacceptable” by conveniently rushing to speak of Rayshard’s cause of death without considering the facts leading up to it. I want to remind you that it is unconstitutional, unlawful and unacceptable” to put other people’s lives at risk by Driving Under the Influence (DUI), to resist arrest if you’re being taken into custody and to run from the police when you’re told to do otherwise especially when you know that there are reckless racist cops that can shoot you. Moreover, if you actually read my comment, you would see I said that, “he didnt deserve to die” and that the “Police used excessive force,” so what are you on about. The struggle to reform law enforcement is far from over so we can’t afford to be complacent.
I’m still waiting on the part when deadly force was justified. I don’t entertain tap dancing around the topic.
The truth hurts doesn’t it!? Give it a minute. It will sink in.
Stop resisting arrest. Stop leaving black children fatherless, it’s the highest predictor of criminality. Stop blaming others for your own shitty community’s problems.
The truth hurts doesn’t it. Just give it a minute. It will sink in.
Are you high?? I was totally behind the george floyd incident. totally unacceptable and we need to stop incidence like that. That being said, the dude resisted arrest, fought and punched the officers, stole one of the officers weapons and aimed it at him. This has nothing to do with an innocent man getting killed by a Cop. Play stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes.
am i missing something? he shot something at the police, right? put yourself in that situation.. as an officer a man runs from arrest, then turns and fires something at you. what would you think it is? then this bitch says abolish the police.
why is killer mike so important at this time i never saw him behind trayvon martin or michael brown.
Do your research before you post bro, he did, you just know hearing him because there is a wall being broken, my people will understand this
Your people are idiots who think they can fight coos steak their tasers and run away without consequence
Under the current laws this was justified … and it’s completely different than the Floyd situation … real problem is cops only shoot to kill … why are there never leg shots? … no matter the race it’s shoot to kill … not only are there racists in the police force but cowards … more cowards than racists … cowards that get scared easy and pull the trigger out of reaction and cowards unwilling to report the criminal activities of other cops
Shooting a drunk guy struggling to run away isn’t justified. What on earth are you smoking that makes you think it’s justified? They could’ve chased him and tackled him, they could’ve tased him. Shooting a drunk person isn’t justified he’s not threatening their lives he wasjust drunk and being a nuisance that’s not sufficient reason to kill him
Fuck that guy. I aint taling up for him. Pick ur battles
Did you even watch the video? Stupid mfer he resisted, punched a cop, stole the taser and ran away, then he turns around and shoots the taser at the cops. That’s why he dead he was a fuckin moron, struggling to get away you should be ashamed of yourself
Leg Shots? You know nothing about guns, do you? Legs shots can be lethal as well and the longer it takes to get you to the hospital the smaller your chances are.
please, someone get Ja Rule on the phone please…so we can make sense amidst all of this bs…we need more expert opinions from veteran rappers…where is JA??
Well these cop shootings will stop when thugs stop acting like idiots and savages. When an innocent black person dies, like David Dorn, by the hand of another black there is silence. When a thug gets killed by cops, it’s riots and looting. So we get it…only thugs matter. Innocent and responsible, respectful blacks can die all day and BLM won’t care.
The police in the US always shoot to kill, what a weird country you guys have
I mean, it sucks that this guy had to die, but you can’t really resist arrest, fight with cops, steal their taser, run away, turn around and point the taser at them, and then expect not to get shot. I understand that the taser couldn’t kill the police officer, but let’s say he shoots him with the taser and the cop seized up. He’s already stolen a taser. What makes you think he wouldn’t have taken his gun as well? This is not the same thing as George Floyd. Let’s not even compare it. George Floyd was handcuffed and had a knee on his neck for nine minutes laying there defenseless. This guy literally did everything that you shouldn’t do when dealing with cops. I guess I just don’t understand why people don’t understand that these cops will kill you if they feel threatened. It’s the law. It is not going to change. It’s sucks that he got killed, but those cops were not out for blood. They were respectful the entire time. A DUI isn’t so bad that this much of a scene needed to be caused. Does someone need to point a loaded weapon and discharge it before a cop is allowed to defend himself? This was not a drawn out event for 9 minutes. This was quick action. Did the cop have to shoot him? It’s debatable. Should this guy have behaved in the manner that he did? Absolutely not. Would he still be alive if he just let them put cuffs on him when he was clearly breaking the law? Yes he would be. This man might’ve been a nice guy, and yes, he was just sleeping in the Wendy’s parking lot, but he did break the law. Therefore, an ensuing police confrontation happened. At what point does everyone think that a police officer has the right to defend themselves with deadly force? I’m just curious to know. Was this justified? Should they never do it? Should They not have guns? Do they have to already have a gun pulled on them? At what point can they defend themselves?
Well said.
Burger King Dylan fuckboy
guy committed partial suicide………..police dont like us ………dont give them an excuse.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Should have let them arrest him and spent the night in a drunk tank.
And if the cops did nothing this drunk baconator eater likely would have driven drunk and killed a bunch of people and no one would bat an eye.
Am I missing something? Iv seen the footage. He’s fighting the police officers on the ground. He then pulls the tazer from the one cop. Then a straight right hand to the jaw of one. He then runs then turns around and points the tazer at the officer. He then gets shot. Iv seen white criminals get shot for pointing a tazer at an officer. What makes any one think fighting the police is going to end well? As far as Im concerned it was a justified shooting. Brothers are just dumb.
Why are we going to champion someone who clearly did something wrong? It’s not wrong that he was drunk and passed out in a drive thru? It wasn’t wrong that he not only resisted arrest but also fought the officers and took a taser from them? Then he ran. Where is he gonna go? Home and it just be over? He points the taser at them. What do you think is going to happen? He hits one of them with that, they are defenseless and he can do whatever he wants. Stop championing people are doing wrong. It does not look good for the community as a whole. But most of you don’t want to hear that. Anything in these situations isn’t “justified” to you. We’re going to act like we all knew that man personally cause it’s become “cool“ to do it. He should’ve just let the officers take him to the drunk tank. Could’ve got himself a lawyer. There is lawyers who specialize in DUIs. What about the danger he put people in to get there? Or what would’ve happened if he woke up and panicked? But we don’t want to think about that.
Imagine the tazer hit the cop in the face or eyes. Fuck this guy. Rip but he did it 2 himself clear as day on camera. Ill rally against police bruality but this aint it. Fuck em