Martin Luther King Jr. And Tupac Police Brutality Video Goes Viral
“We talk a lot about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr but it’s time to be like them, as strong as them” – Tupac Shakur
A video has gone viral of late civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and revolutionary rapper Tupac Shakur debating police brutality.
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The video, posted by Rob Lane edits takes Tupac’s 1994 BET interview with Ed Gordon and mixes it with Martin Luther King Jr speeches.
In August 1963, Martin Luther King delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. He spoke about the need for equality and to have faith in standing up for freedom. In this famous speech, he also spoke about black people constantly putting up with harassment by the police.
“We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of unspeakable horrors of police brutality.”
Police Brutality Incident in Oakland
In the original interview with Ed Gordon, Tupac talked about various topics including black suffering and racism.
“I had no police record until I made a record. As my video was debuting on MTV, I was behind bars getting beat up by the police department.”
The incident which Tupac was referring to goes back to October 1991 in Oakland. While walking across 17th and Broadway in Oakland. Tupac was approached by two police officers and accused of jaywalking.
The two officers gave Tupac a hard time and ridiculed him when he stated his name was Tupac. The officers would eventually bash ‘Pac’s face repeatedly to the ground. Tupac would go on to win $42,000 in a lawsuit against the police department.
With Tupac being the voice for his generation and a son of a revolutionary Black Panther, many believe Tupac would have continued to lead and have an impact in politics. One thing we do know for a fact is that Tupac Amaru Shakur sparked the brains of millions. He continues to do so to this very day.