Fayetteville, NC – Much like he did following the death of Michael Brown in 2014 as well as Eric Garner that same year, J. Cole found himself once again on the front lines of protest Saturday (May 30).
This time he was back in his hometown of Fayetteville, NC, alongside NBA star Dennis Smith Jr., marching towards the Fayetteville Police Department in the name of George Floyd. Floyd, who was born in Fayetteville, died on Monday (May 25) in police custody in Minneapolis, MN.
Cole spoke with individuals who had gathered at the protest but informed them that he did not want to take pictures as it would “detract” from the protest’s overall message regarding police brutality and justice for Floyd.
.@JColeNC is in downtown @CityOfFayNC now attending the protest. Snapped this picture before the crowd started moving down Hay Street. I’m told they are heading to the @FayettevillePD. #abc11 pic.twitter.com/RCNcU0AVHm
— Akilah Davis (@DavisABC11) May 30, 2020
J.Cole protesting with the people in Fayetteville NC pic.twitter.com/WxHrym9elg
— New Branches (@new_branches) May 30, 2020
@JColeNC has come out to the protest to show support, but is not taking pictures to not detract from the protest’s message. pic.twitter.com/PrAL1gbAkb
— RachaelRiley (@RachaelRiley85) May 30, 2020
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Recently, fans have been resharing Cole’s “Be Free” performance from Letterman in 2014 to signify how much has not changed since then. “All we want to do is break the chains of pain, all we want to do is be free,” Cole sings on the song.
“When I made the song, it came from a crazy place,” Cole told Angie Martinez about the song and performance in 2014. “And I was like, I don’t know if I can go back to that place, but … when we got to rehearsal, I started reading articles, and I saw the video again to put myself back in the mainframe. It’s the most important thing I’ve ever done on stage.”