Q-Tip took to the streets of New York City Monday (Nov. 24) night leading one of many national demonstrations in response to a grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed young man.

Before joining the protest, the native New Yorker tweeted his thoughts on the announcement that charges would not be filed against Wilson, 28. “No value for Black life,” he wrote. “But they extrapolate our magic, sweat, our voice our fire… And leave us stripped of our right to exist.”

The 44-year-old MC also tweeted “c’mon” to President Barack Obama, writing in another post that the commander in chief “cld have called for a federal indictment/investigation” into Brown’s death. About an hour later, Q-Tip hit the pavement in Times Square chanting “hands up, don’t shoot!” alongside several others who flooded the New York City tourist destination, subsequently shutting the area down. 

All around the country people were reacting to the decision, some with words and peaceful protests, others with violence and vandalism. Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore protested in his hometown of Seattle, and “Make It Home” singer August Alsina broke into tears as he spoke about Brown during a stop on the Usher tour last night. 

On a similarly emotional note, Killer Mike delivered a heartfelt speech about Brown’s death at one of his shows. “I would like to say, ‘rest in peace,’ to Michael Brown, who will never get to see the next phase of his life. I would like to give all thoughts and prayers to all those out there peacefully protesting,” he told the crowd.

As a father of two, Mike expressed his sentiments for the Brown family, and a fear that his own children could be gunned down by a police officer. “I have a 20-year-old son and I have a 12-year-old son, and I’m so afraid for them. You motherf***ers got me today. You got me.”

He continued, “When I stood in front of my wife and I hugged her, and I cried like a baby I said, ‘These motherf***ers got me today'… with that said, you motherf***ers will not own tomorrow. We will not live in your fear.” 

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(Photo: Donald Bowers/Getty Images)