Another black American has died after an encounter with police, and the hip hop community has taken to social media to voice their outrage and offer their condolences for what appears to be another senseless murder.
Alton Sterling, 37, was selling CD's outside of a convenience store when he was stopped by two police officers, who proceeded to pin him and then allegedly fired several shots at Sterling while he was still on the ground, killing him. Authorities say Sterling threatened the officers with a gun, a story that conflicts with witnesses at the scene, who say Sterling made no threatening movements towards the officers and was simply confused about why this was happening to him. Sterling was the father of three children.
Video of the incident has been posted online and has sparked outrage at the police's handling of the situation.
Sterling is the latest African American to die under suspicious circumstances following an encounter with the police, joining Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, and countless others.
Atlanta rapper OG Maco expressed outrage and frustration at the situation, saying "They take our blackness, gentrify, and monetize it into millions and then kill us for the same blackness, pacify and divide us."
Xzibit voiced similar sentiments, saying "Angry tweets, marching, protesting,none of that shit works. We have to speak economically. We generate BILLIONS, and retain none of it."
"My tears are fresh for #AltonSterling. They burn for those bullets the police ended his life with. But this is not over. We will fight. NOW," Vic Mensa wrote on Twitter. Mensa released the track "16 Shots" earlier this year to call attention to the murder of Laquan McDonald, another young black man who died as the result of police brutality.
"The cop was deranged and KNEW he was going to DO this one day - it was a matter of when and who... IF anything THIS proves why the term #BlackLivesMatter is the CRYOUT to the rest of the Planet Earth from this United States Of America," Public Enemy's Chuck D wrote on Twitter.
By Michael Lacerna for RAPstation.com
