“We’re told this land is for you and I, then why are we the ones to die.”

You might think that singer, songwriter and guitarist Celisse Henderson wrote this song in the past week, in the wake of the protests for justice for George Floyd. In fact, it was written in 2016 after the deaths of Philando Castillo and Alton Sterling within 24 hours of each other.

“Now, almost four years later, too little has been done and the story remains the same,” Henderson says in a statement. “With the horrific and unjust killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Tony McDade weighing heavily on our hearts and minds, it is time to release ‘FREEDOM’ as a rallying cry and a call to action to stand up and fight for our freedom.”

It’s an intensely powerful song and, more importantly, all proceeds go to The Movement for Black Lives and Campaign Zero. Go to celissehenderson.com/freedom to find out how to help.

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