On Friday, August 15, police identified Darren Wilson as the police officer who fatally shot teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
Also on Friday, rapper J. Cole released a song called "Be Free," which excerpts quotes from Dorian Johnson, an eyewitness to Brown's killing.
Rest in Peace to Michael Brown and to every young black man murdered in America, whether by the hands of white or black. I pray that one day the world will be filled with peace and rid of injustice. Only then will we all Be Free - Cole
On August 14, singer Frank Ocean weighed in on the crisis in Ferguson, Mo. on Tumblr, posting this image of Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson speaking at a press conference as Mo. Governor Jay Nixon watches.
You see that black woman standing up there? I wonder if she was called to stand behind the governor because she's black. I wonder if i'm supposed to think Missouri's gov't is pro-black because of her being stood up there with those other black men being all black and everything. I wonder if she was off the clock while she stood up there. If she was off the clock..then i wonder if she was getting paid for her time off like the guy who shot Michael 8 times. What's that guy's name by the way?
Ocean and Cole's statements follow gestures made by rapper Killer Mike, band leader Questlove and many others in the hip-hop community in the days since Brown was killed.
RT .@The_Blackness48: Powerful picture we took today at Howard University #Ferguson #MikeBrown #MyaWhite #DONTSHOOT