Billie Joe Armstrong releases strong statement in light of Charlottesville tragedy

August 14, 2017

In light of recent events in Charlottesville, many bands are using their platforms to speak out against hate and violence. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day has joined them by writing a heartfelt post after a show in Omaha yesterday.

Armstrong wrote this caption under a photo from Green Day's show:

Omaha!! what a show! I love the heartland. nothing makes me feel more inspired than hearing an arena singing together.. so many thoughts today.. my heart feels heavy. I feel like what happened in charlottesville goes beyond the point of anger. it makes me sad and desperate. shocked. I fucking hate racism more than anything. music and social justice have always gone hand and hand with me. we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for “the time they are a changing” .. some people don't agree. the spirit of green day has always been about rising above oppression. and sticking up for what you believe in and singing it at the top of your lungs. we grew up fearing nuclear holocaust because of the cold war. those days are feeling way too relevant these days. these issues are our ugly past.. and now it's coming to haunt us. always resist these doomsday politicians. and in the words of our punk forefathers .. Nazi punks fuck off.

According to CNN, a state of emergency has been issued by Virginia's governor after the “Unite the Right” rally was declared unlawful, causing erruptions of violence between torch-bearing demonstrators and counter-protesters.

Billie Joe Armstrong is not the only musician who has been vocal about the recent tragedy where one counter-protester, Heather Heyer, has been killed.

Pete Wentz, Mark Hoppus, Geoffrey Rickly, Hayley Williams and countless others have used their voices to condemn the Alt-Right rally that turned deadly.

Our thoughts are with Heyer's family and anyone who has been affected by these events. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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