Musicians, writers and film-makers have added their voices to the growing number of people speaking out after a Missouri grand jury decided to not indict Darren Wilson for fatally shooting teenager Michael Brown in August.
Some expressed solidarity with the protesters, while others signalled their disbelief and anger.
The Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike gave a pre-show speech before a performance in St Louis with his group Run the Jewels. In a four-minute monologue he spoke about the fear he feels for his own sons, who are 12 and 20, as they grow up in a country where young black men are so frequently shot by police officers.
“I would like to say rest in peace to Michael Brown. I would like to give all my thoughts and prayers to the people who are out there peacefully protesting,” he said before mentioning his sons and saying: “These motherfuckers will not own tomorrow. We will not live in your fear.”
Killer Mike has been a prominent voice in the aftermath of Ferguson and followed other rappers including Talib Kweli, Macklemore and Q-Tip who also aired their views on the grand jury’s decision. The latter two attended protests in Ferguson and New York.
The film director Spike Lee posted an artwork of Michael Brown on Instagram with the words “Truth, Just-Us & the American Way. We Are Michael Brown.”
Rapper Mykki Blanco posted on Twitter to question the timing of the verdict:
It's as if they wanted the rioting, the looting, the anger and confusion.. The timing of this verdict was a set up
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) November 25, 2014
She added:
they wanted these people to destroy their own communities tonight to project this image to the rest of the world
— mykki blanco (@MykkiBlanco) November 25, 2014
Alicia Keys simply posted “Mike Brown” on Instagram.
R&B singer Solange tweeted: “I don’t have anything ‘insightful’ to say right now. Just pain, and anger. Something we are all allowed to feel right now.” She also posted a longer message on Instagram that ended with: “We are not Michael Browns family, but we are Michael Browns family. We don’t hurt like they do, but we do hurt. Hurt like hell. Thing about my people though....we don’t stay broken. We get up. We put the pieces together when there aren’t even pieces to pick up.......and we will......again and again and again.”
Solange’s sister Beyonce simply posted the Brown family’s statement, which called for positive change in the wake of the verdict.
The Scandal showrunner Shonda Rhimes posted a Martin Luther King quote that read: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) November 25, 2014
Queensbridge rapper Nas quoted from fellow New York artist KRS One.
"You were put here to protect us, but who protects us from you?" - KRS One
— Nasir Jones (@Nas) November 25, 2014
Other voices included Katy Perry who said she was praying “for an equal America”, while Lena Dunham posted “All my love is with the family of Michael Brown. I applaud their strength and courage, mourn their loss, pray they see justice and change.”
All my love is with the family of Michael Brown. I applaud their strength and courage, mourn their loss, pray they see justice and change.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 25, 2014
