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Kid Rock may have been honored by the NAACP, but that hasn’t dissuaded protesters from accusing him of racism. At issue Sunday outside an NAACP event honoring Rock was his onstage use of the Confederate flag, which protesters called unacceptable.
“I love America. I love Detroit, and I love black people,” Rock said at the Detroit NAACP chapter’s annual fundraiser, where he recieved an award for advocating for his native Detroit.
Rock said his use of the flag didn’t reflect his attitude about race, but rather was a throwback to idol Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Rock’s words weren’t enough to appease protesters outside of Detroit’s Cobo Center, who according to the Associated Press burned a replica of the flag and held signs reading “No to Kid Rock.”
“It stands for hatred, bigotry, racism, murder,” said Detroit political strategist Adolph Mongo, who spoke on behalf of the protesters. “Every bigot and racist in this country loves that flag.”
Despite the 60 or so protestors outside, fundraiser attendees cheered for Rock when he walked on stage to accept the award.
The rapper announced that his foundation would donate $50,000 to several Detroit nonprofit organizations, as well as $50,000 in relief to states that had been hit by recent tornados.
“That’s what Detroit city is all about,” said Rock.
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