The-Dream Gets Criticized for Asking Protesters to Stop Destroying Property in Atlanta

The-Dream recently shared a message on social media pleading with those looting in Atlanta to stop destroying the businesses he and his family made.

the dream
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Image via Getty/Harmony Gerber

the dream

The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police has sparked protests across the nation. While all of these protests begin peacefully, some have grown violent and chaotic as time has progressed.

This has been seen in several cities including Atlanta, where people have been seen breaking into malls and businesses, burning others to the ground. The-Dream recently took to Twitter on Saturday night to address the damage he has seen being done to his city, and his thoughts on it.

Dear People, IF YOU ARE NOT FROM ATLANTA, DONT COME HERE AND PLEASE GO HOME. I OWN THINGS IN THIS CITY, A LOT OF BLACKS OWN THINGS IN THIS CITY, FROM BANKHEAD TO BUCKHEAD. DO NOT DESTROY PROPERTY THAT NEGATES THE DECADES OF WORK. MY CHILDREN WILL NOT BE SET BACK BY YOU!

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 30, 2020

"Dear People, IF YOU ARE NOT FROM ATLANTA, DONT COME HERE AND PLEASE GO HOME," his first tweet began. His first in a series of tweets would continue saying that he other black people own property in the city, and that destroying it would be setting back decades of work.

These comments are (somewhat) similar to the sentiments already shared by fellow Atlanta artist T.I. and Killer Mike, who both have voiced how the citizens of Atlanta need to protect the city rather than burn down.

Rapper Killer Mike made an emotional plead with Atlanta demonstrators to “not burn your own house down for anger with an enemy”: “We don’t want to see targets burning. We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burned to the ground” https://t.co/65NDumzX6j pic.twitter.com/FgEdYR4uXz

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 30, 2020

Others responded to this tweet arguing that while buildings and inanimate objects can be rebuilt and restored, black lives cannot, and that The-Dream is already wealthy so he should be worrying about more pressing matters.

Meanwhile the police are killing other working poor black folks kids in the street.... pic.twitter.com/Vw5tRXJgX7

— Ultra Babe (@ItGirlDanie) May 30, 2020

Remember this.
1. ITS HARD TO GET A LOAN BEING BLACK 2. WHEN A BLACK BUSINESS IS BURNED DOWN IT USUALLY NEVER RETRUNS 3. THEY WILL STILL OWE THE LOAN. 4. CREDIT TO START AGAIN IS REJECTED 5. WE HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE GENERATION TO RESTART. These are some (facts).

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 30, 2020

Are y’all that simple, all I talk about is black sht, all I do is black sht. Yao I can’t say don’t burn down my home. Yeah I’m sorry if you feel that’s cool. I beenin the streets. Ive been apart of illegal arrest and unrest. Hear what you want.

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

The-Dream would continue in a series of tweets talking about how hard it is to start a business while black, and to pleaded for people to stop burning them down.

I’m suppose to feel cool my shits burning, wth. 😭 nigg you crazy. How you show up in a place where you know damn well it’s where we go and what we do and say yeah let’s burn it down. And I can’t say nah? Seriously? Just make sure you run the right shit is the point!Simple.geez

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

We know the county’s that police show out in... why you ain’t there? So if you gone do something go there and “protest” and be ready to die for it. I’m from that family! Where they left the house ready to die. so nah until it’s that don’t burn my sht. Yet you in the blackest plc

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

Don’t burn my sister business, my brother business , my cousin. This ain’t the city for that, I can’t speak for “ surrounding”cities, cause yes the one to the left been on some fck sht since forever. “Know who, know where and know why”

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

I know the guy who owns ATTOM, a BLACK man, WE also sell Things there and he was the first to allow us to! WE TALK ALL THE TIME. Y’all broke his heart. And y’all want to defend it. Nah he’s going to loose the store period. And that’s cool. And I can’t say don’t. Yeah aight.

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

My daughter when I’m dead and gone, because her father didn’t let a wack ngga burn her future up. Can’t become this without a home idiot. pic.twitter.com/93qOw0hGPW

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

Interesting, so they wallet go burn down what they know ain’t ours or paint , destroy, and not that I wish harm on anyone, but. They know where but they won’t go there. THEY LETTING THEM BURN THE SHT WE HAVE.

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

The-Dream responded to some of his followers directly, trying to defend his original tweet.

Log out, on my kids? You know what you right burn they shit down. I know you comin through to clean up thanks, hey kids sorry but I was going to fight for y’all but she said I should just burn the house down, now should they be there when it burns or nah?

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

I don’t understand what’s so damn Hard about understanding this. You want black people to wake up Monday and beg the Man for a loan. I can’t believe I even have to explain this. Might not mean nothing to you. We already black, we can’t afford to loose a home or business.

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

Nigga i ain’t no celebrity, you burn your house up first so you have no where to stay and then come back, I’m suppose to say yeah you right burn my house up that’s great because you feel like it, no, how does causing another brother pain help? How? Send me a pic of your shit on🔥

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

If that’s what you read cool, what I am about is the people I put on this earth period. I don’t have to have a pissing contest, I know who I am, and what I do. I’m and if you got a fucking problem with me saying don’t run in my house and burn my shit up, burn your Gouse first.

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 31, 2020

Maybe the best way to get through to the people would be by joining them on the front lines, rather than tweeting at them.

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