Georgia Senate Honors ‘Outstanding Ambassador’ Killer Mike
The Georgia Senate honored Run the Jewels rapper Killer Mike for being an “outstanding ambassador” to the city of Atlanta as well as his role in improving the city’s water infrastructure.
The rapper also delivered a speech at the state capitol where he discussed education, housing and other ways to improve Atlanta, WABE reports.
“Our children deserve decent housing. Gentrification should not make children poor,” Killer Mike told state senators. “Our school systems deserve more attention. Our teachers deserve more money. Our firemen deserve more money. And our policemen deserve more than new guns. They deserve to have enough cops on the street to be involved in the community.”
The Georgia Senate’s honor comes after the rapper lent his moniker to “Driller Mike,” the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management’s custom-made drill that helped build an emergency backup water system in the city.
In State Resolution 315, the Georgia Senate recognized the contributions of both Killer Mike and Driller Mike.
“Michael Render has used his platform as a Grammy-winning rapper to help bring the value of water to mainstream audiences,” the resolution stated. “He has been quoted as saying, ‘I don’t ever want to cry for Atlanta like I’ve cried 14 for places like Flint. Water is a right that people deserve. This is an equitable distribution 15 of water. I drink it out of the tap, so that matters to me. I’m proud of Atlanta because we will 16 always talk from a place of power.'”
Following his speech, Killer Mike, who boasted about wearing his chain to the session, posted about the experience on Instagram, and also shared a local news story about his day at the state capitol.
The rapper, who campaigned on behalf of Bernie Sanders in 2016, promised he’ll continue to be politically active, with the rapper pledging to back state senator Vincent Fort’s bid for Atlanta mayor.