On Saturday, Charlottesville became a scene of hatred, bigotry and racism as a Unite the Right rally featuring white supremacists, neo-Nazis and neo-Confederates got so out of hand a state of emergency was declared in the Virginia town. After a crowd of counter-protestors turned up, one man responded by driving his car into a crowd, killing one and injuring at least 19 in the act. The driver was eventually arrested and charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and failing to stop at a fatal accident.
It’s all incredibly troubling, especially when some prominent figures at the cited Donald Trump as the anthesis of the entire movement. The whole world watched in horror, and many began their condemnation of the events in Charlottesville with Trump, including celebrities like LeBron James and Virginia’s Governor Terry McAuliffe.
Like always, the music world refused to bite their tongues, with the likes of Lady Gaga, Lorde, John Legend, Pink, T.I., Questlove, Tim McGraw and more taking to social media to speak their minds loudly and clearly. “I pray a true leader will rise to expel hatred from America,” Gaga said over a series of tweets while T.I. added “WE MUST PROTECT OURSELVES & EACH OTHER” over a trio of intense Instagram posts. Check out some of the reactions from the music world below.
Tweet @realDonaldTrump & tell him how you think he could #BeKind and be a better leader. #ThisIsNotUS #BeKind #Charlottesville #POTUS pic.twitter.com/9tewk6rccf
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 12, 2017
I pray a true leader will rise to expel hatred from America. This is not US! This is Anti-American #ThisIsNotUS #Charlottesville #BeKind
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 12, 2017
This. https://t.co/JvrZEZ1hpo
— ?st (@questlove) August 12, 2017
These morons look like they're en route to a f**king luau @laurenduca pic.twitter.com/kmKph486bX
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) August 12, 2017
We have nazi sympathizers and white nationalists in the White House. Condemn them too. They should not be receiving taxpayer money.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/lorde/status/896528560692707328
https://twitter.com/lorde/status/896528771636903936
White Supremacists Well Cared 4 In trump Admin.He’s LOUD N PROUD 2NUKE N.KOREA,But a Girl-Scout Could Have Made MORE MACHO SPEECH ABOUT RIOT
— Cher (@cher) August 12, 2017
1. What if I told you I wore the shirts of a band, quoted them, went to their concerts, talked about them online, espoused their beliefs…
— pw (@petewentz) August 12, 2017
2. …hung out with others that were fans of the band, collected their old merchandise, etc- but then claimed I was not a fan of the band?
— pw (@petewentz) August 12, 2017
3. If u quote Hitler, wear swastikas, hang out w/ nazis, march w/ nazis, wear white power symbols, espouse nazi beliefs…
— pw (@petewentz) August 12, 2017
4. … then to me you are a nazi 🖕🏼not super hard to figure out.
— pw (@petewentz) August 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/896428340348891136
https://twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/status/896530231451955200
My ❤️ is w the good people of #Charlottesville, the peaceful protestors & victims of this horrific act. What a devastating & shameful day.
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) August 12, 2017
