Pharrell Williams Isn’t Happy, Makes “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” Sign at Grammys

by Austin Petersen

He’s not so “happy”

Pharrell Williams won Best Solo performance and Best Music Video (AFP/Getty)
Pharrell Williams won Best Solo performance and Best Music Video (AFP/Getty)

Pharrell Williams weighed into the controversy over the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri last night during his performance at the Grammys. Williams, who won the Grammy for Best Solo Performance and Best Video, and his backup dancers put their hands up in the air to symbolize the #blacklivesmatter protest.

The use of hoodies by the dancers is believed to be a tribute to the shooting of Trayvon Martin. The “hands up” gesture refers to Michael Brown, whose death at the hands of Officer Darren Wilson ignited protests across the United States.

The artist Prince joined Williams in a tribute to the movement, and made a political statement before the award for Best Album. “Albums… remember those? Albums still matter. Like books and black lives, albums still matter.”

Singer Beyonce paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr in honor of the film “Selma,” which chronicled the cleric’s famous civil rights march.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaW-fbKeSpA

Singers John Legend and Common performed the song “Glory,” another song from the album of the Selma soundtrack, which was nominated for best original song at the Oscars. Common held up his hands in the air as well to honor Michael Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6KlK93LZBs

Austin Petersen is a homegrown Missourian with a lifelong passion for liberty. He grew up on a horse farm in Peculiar, Missouri and went on to attend Missouri State University, graduating with a degree in the Fine Arts. After developing a career in media in both New York City and Washington, D.C., he returned to Kansas City, MO, the city he now calls home. In 2016, Petersen appeared on the national stage as a candidate for president of the United States. He took second place in the crowded Libertarian primary behind Governor Gary Johnson and ahead of cyber security maverick John McAfee. During his campaign, Petersen earned many high-profile conservative endorsements, including Mary Matalin, Erick Erickson and Leon Wolf of RedState.com. Petersen also brings decades of professional experience in a wide variety of fields, from content production and media to business and political activism. He is the owner and chief executive of Stonegait LLC, a consulting firm specializing in photo and video services. He was also the director of production at FreedomWorks and an associate producer for Judge Andrew Napolitano’s show “Freedom Watch” on the Fox Business Network. Additionally, Petersen has a national following as a commentator and professional pundit. He is the founder of The Libertarian Republic, a powerful online news source for the public that receives an average of 1 million unique visits monthly and whose podcast, The Freedom Report, receives an average of one million monthly downloads. He is also a frequent contributor on television, appearing on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, MSNBC and on dozens of local radio shows.

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