Rock and indie artists voice their support for Black Lives Matter protests

Green Day, Garbage and Tom Morello have all shown support

Black Lives Matter protest
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 1st Jun 2020
Last updated 2nd Jun 2020

Rock and indie acts from across the world have come out in support of the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd. George was a 46-year-old black man, who was killed after being apprehended by a white policeman in Minneapolis last week. A video of the policeman with his knee on George's neck has been widely circulated.

Acts such as Green Day, Garbage, and Rage Against The Machine have shared messages on social media in support of Black Lives Matter, with Green Day posting on Instagram, 'Demand justice + do your part. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter'.

With Enter Shakiri's Rou Reynolds sharing support for an app that 'helps you protect yourself during police interaction.' He also links to an open letter for George Floyd which includes a transcript of the video.

Garbage also posted a statement which read, ‘America is being destroyed and burned down. The National Guard is at war with civilians. All this because They refuse to even charge officers who killed a black man in front of the whole world!! The would rather lose everything than give a black man justice!! …Let that sink in.’

Meanwhile, The Prodigy quoted Desmond Tutu saying, 'If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor,' and Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine quoted the activist Malcolm X saying, 'That's not a chip on my shoulder. That's your foot on my neck.'

Liam Gallagher simply tweeted, 'BLACK LIVES MATTER'.

Bond singer Billie Eilish also took to Instagram saying, 'If I hear one more white person say 'All Lives Matter' one more f--king time, I'm going to lose my f--king mind. You are privileged whether you like it or not. Society gives you privilege just for being white.'

Over the weekend protesters gathered in more than 30 cities across the US as well as in Trafalgar Square in London and St Peter’s Square in Manchester to show their support. More protests are also planned for later in the week.