Rapper T.I. took to the streets of Atlanta to join protests following the death of unarmed Black man, Rayshard Brooks, who was shot and killed by police.
“I don’t give a damn what your opinion is of the person. I don’t give a damn what he did. The man didn’t deserve to die like that. And any policeman out here who stands behind that sh*t your ass in trouble too, man,” the rapper tells the crowd.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, police responded to Wendy’s following reports that a man was asleep in his vehicle in the drive-thru. After speaking with Brooks, it was revealed that he’d been drinking and as police attempted to place him in handcuffs a struggle ensues and Brooks runs away. Both officers chase him with tasers in hand — before one of the cops switches his taser for his gun.
He then shoots Brooks.
“We are going to have to organize. We’re going to have to demonstrate but we are going to have to do it with purpose. And when I say purpose, I mean direction. We’ve got to go where we need to go and do what we need to do in those areas. Everybody needs to choose what it is you need to do, pick your purpose and operate with purpose and direction. And if you don’t do it in the name of Tip, do it in the name of Rashard and all the rest of the people who died at the hands of the police.”