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Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Alright’ chanted at rally in Washington D.C

Lauren Ziegler

Kendrick Lamar‘s powerful single Alright, off his groundbreaking album To Pimp A Butterfly, has been used by demonstrators at the National Mall in Washington DC, where thousands attended the Justice or Else march, commemorating 20 years since the famous Million Man March. The rally is used to call for racial equality and police reforms – so chanting the lyrics to Alright could not be more appropriate. Watch this Vine for a clip of demonstrators chanting the famous “We gon’ be alright!”

It’s really amazing to see the power of words and music like this.

Artists including Jay Electronica, Common and J. Cole were among those demonstrating.

As you can see by the photo, this has been an immense and hugely successful event, not only used to commemorate the march, but to bring to light the issues that American society is facing today. Speeches were given by prominent leaders and representatives of the Native American and African American communities.

This isn’t the first time Alright has been used by protestors. Back in July, activists in Cleveland chanted the song at a demonstration against police brutality. At the time, fellow rapper Ric Wilson insightfully remarked that the track had become a “modern-day We Shall Overcome,” the protest song synonymous with the African American Civil Rights movement and protests of the 1960s.

Documented largely via social media, here’s a few images of the incredible event:

https://twitter.com/iamdiddy/status/652909192924266496

https://twitter.com/BlackGirlsWinni/status/652883056060182528