Killer Mike is an advocate for many things including free speech, and he believes if that becomes null and void, then prejudice and injustice will never end.
On Thursday (April 27), while donning a tailored tuxedo, the Run The Jewels rapper spoke at the 2023 Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Gala as a representative for defending American citizen’s First Amendment rights.
“I need us here to know tonight that there is no grand final winning of freedom of speech,” Killer Mike told those in attendance. “There’s no end of the race where we all hold up trophies. It is a constant and protracted struggle to make sure the rights to become a more perfect union are always striven for.”
He continued: “If we allow ourselves to express to one another our deepest and sometimes our darkest thinkings, we will eventually hear one another. Burn off the fat of prejudice, of racial injustice, of misogyny, of phobias, and we will get to a place where we make a better, a more perfect union.”
“Right now, in this country, your freedom of speech is at risk,” he added. “The government has no right to limit your freedom of speech, your freedom of religion, your freedom to assemble.”
Check out Killer Mike’s full speech below:
Prior to the event, Killer Mike elaborated on the importance of freedom of speech.
“If you don’t believe in freedom of speech for those people you don’t agree with, you don’t believe in freedom of speech at all,” Mike said in a statement. “I encourage people to make sure that you’re strict about making sure your Constitutional rights are protected and covered.”
In music news, Killer Mike recently returned with a new offering from his forthcoming solo album Michael, and it features his Run The Jewels contemporary El-P.
The new gospel-infused track, titled “Don’t Let the Devil,” was produced by No I.D., El-P and Little Shalimar, and is the first offering from the RTJ pair since RTJ4 back in 2021.
“Don’t Let the Devil,” which also features thankugoodsir, arrived on Killer Mike’s 48th birthday, and the Atlanta rapper spoke about his born day in an Instagram post commemorating the new track.
“I want to time travel and tell 12-year-old #MICHAEL that he dropped a [fire emoji] song with his rap potna El-P and had some dope Nike SB collabs on his born-day, plus he had a party,” Mike wrote, referencing the duo’s Nike SB Dunk High sneaker collaboration.
He added: “Life is great, kid. Stay focused and Don’t Let The Devil coerce ya!”
so killer mike is looking at this from a christian perspective, it just should be about the individual. if you can believe in yourself obey the law call out any racism when you see it whether yourself or otherwise then you can live the american dream. i am not american nowadays indigenous cultures are being bastardised the lgbtq+ movement has combined with indigenous causes and very real grievances. keep doing your good work killer mike i am sure people are listening and will benefit.
Democrats try to silence free speech.
Freedom of speech is overated since people think they can blur any stupid shit out without none consequences, it is what it is
Unfortunately these days it’s getting harder to talk. You get labelled..racist..sexist.. misogynistic..transphobic. it’s the easy way to shut down a conversation or criticism.