Antwan André Patton, better known by his stage name Big Boi, is speaking out about the nationwide social unrest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer.

“It’s mentally draining,” Patton tells ABC Audio. “To watch it all day long. We’ve seen it time and time again and the people have had enough. As we should.”

According to the Outkast frontman, what’s currently going on in America — and around the world — is bigger than just a protest for change.

“It’s not just flesh and blood, it’s the spiritual war that’s going on,” he continues. “It’s really a fight for your soul. So you got to pay attention to everything.”

While the COVID-19 quarantine has given Patton a much-needed break and time to reflect on his life, the rapper says he still can’t seem to “understand how” America will just let itself “burn down for three officers.”

“It’s plain as day what happened,” he says. “They’re ready let the whole thing go down the hole. So the people ain’t gon’ let up. This ain’t going away. Until justice is served.” 

On Wednesday, the initial charges against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was seen on video with his knee on Floyd’s neck, were increased to second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.

Additionally, the other three former officers who were at the scene, J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane, have now been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. An independent autopsy revealed Floyd’s cause of death was “homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain.”

By Candice Williams
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