American rapper Killer Mike wept as he spoke out about the death of George Floyd at a protest about his death in Atlanta, US.
Prostesters have been reacting to horrifying footage that showed George Floyd, 46, gasping for breath as white officer Derek Chauvin kneels on his neck for several minutes.
There has been angry protest across US cities after he later died in police custody including Atlanta were buildings were torched.
A tearful Killer Mike is seen in a video of the press conference on Friday which has been widely circulated.
Killer Mike told how he "woke wanting to see the world burn down" after Floyd's death and "hates seeing black men die".
He also called on protesters to stop vandalising buildings and "channel their anger into making political change".
Killer Mike said: "I am the son of an Atlanta police officer… I watched a white police officer assassinate a black man. And I know that tore your heart out.
"I woke up wanting to see the world burn down yesterday because I am tired of seeing black men die. He casually put his knee on a human being’s neck for nine minutes as he died like a zebra in the clutch of a lion’s jaw…
“We don't want to see Targets burning. We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burned to the ground.
"I am duty-bound to be here to simply say that it is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house in times of organisation…
"We have to be better than this moment. We have to be better than burning down our own homes, because if we lose Atlanta, what else we got?."
Derek Chauvin, the police officer who pinned Floyd down, has been arrested and charged with murder.
The shamed cop was one of four officers fired following the horrifying incident in Minneapolis on Monday.
Mr Floyd was filmed repeatedly saying he could not breathe as he was pinned to the ground by Chauvin, and died shortly afterwards.
