The world has been rattled by allegations of police brutality and insufficient persecution in recent months. With the innocent deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and many more black Americans, the excessive - and racist - force exerted by police officers in the United States has sent Americans into anger, sadness, and frustration. Check out our photo gallery of the celebrities that have joined the "Black Lives Matter" campaign in 2014 to protest systemic racist and raise awareness about police brutality.
Citizens have been seen protesting on city streets across the country, as well as on social media. Celebrities, including athletes, actors, and singers, have joined the movement to show their support for "Black Lives Matter."
Usher, Kobe Bryant, Beyonce, Jay-Z, LeBron James, Macklemore, Chris Brown, Wale, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dave Chappelle are just a few celebrities that have joined the movement to fight police brutality and create meaningful change.
By creating awareness for campaigns such as "Black Lives Matter," "Hands Up, Don't Shoot," and "I Can't Breathe," these famous figures keep the subject on the mainstream agenda, forcing people to consider these important issues and join the protest against racism in America. Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice are just a few of the victims of the epidemic of violence our country suffers from today, and many argue that the police - who serve to protect us - not only caused these horrific events, but continue to repeat these behaviors on a daily basis.
Samuel L. Jackson has challenged celebrities to go one step further as he posted a video on his public Facebook page asking famous figures who took the Ice Bucket Challenge over the summer to join the protest, according to USA Today.
"All you celebrities out there who poured ice water on your head, here's a chance to do something else. I challenge all of you to sing the 'We ain't gonna stop, til people are free' song."
The song, sung around the country by protestors, includes Eric Garner's final words as a police officer killed him with a chokehold. Check out the lyrics below:
"I can hear my neighbor cryin' 'I can't breathe'
Now I'm in the struggle and I can't leave
Calling out the violence of the racist police
We ain't gonna stop 'til people are free
We ain't gonna stop 'til people are free."
