Since rising to fame with a slew of multiplatinum hits, Macklemore has used most of his star power to champion marriage equality and has become the LGBT ally of the moment thanks to his efforts. But at this weekend’s American Music Awards Macklemore gave both fans and strangers a pleasant surprise and spoke for equality for all when he honored late Florida teen Trayvon Martin during his acceptance speech.
Macklemore and his hip-hop partner were not on hand at the actual awards show, they were instead busy at a show in Miami. The hip-hop duo accepted their award for Favorite Album Rap/Hip Hop and Macklemore took a moment to speak about racial profiling the murder of black teen Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman.
“I was talking to my friend… before the show and he reminded me of a great Martin Luther King quote. ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ Because we are in Florida tonight accepting this award, I want to acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids that are dying due to racial profiling and the violence that follows it. This is really happening. Our friends, our neighbors, our peers, our fans, and it’s time that we look out for the youth, and fight against racism and the laws that protect it,” Macklemore said before going on to perform their hit “Can’t Hold Us.”
We were certainly surprised by the gesture but more so proud of Macklemore for using his moment of success as a platform to promote justice for all. Perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising because to be a true ally and champion for equality you have to want it for all.
He’s not the only surprising champion for justice and equality. Check out some other shocking activists below. – nicholas robinson
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Clay Aiken Supports Trayvon Martin Case
“The Trayvon Martin story has received a lot of coverage already but this is in memory of him,” said Clay while wearing a hoodie. “As a father, you think about your own kid and mine is really young, but this could be anyone’s child. We need to have something happen here, some sort justice and arrest. I’m not saying a conviction, I’m just saying an arrest and a jury deciding this instead of just some cops.”
