Macklemore and Q-Tip join protests over Michael Brown ruling

Rappers Macklemore and Q-Tip joined peaceful protests taking place across the nation on Monday night (24Nov14) to condemn the decision not to prosecute a police officer who killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri in August (14) and a jury decided on Monday that no charges should be brought against the cop.

The ruling sparked outrage and a protest in Ferguson descended into violence and chaos. A number of civil demonstrations took place in major cities across the country and the rappers decided to get involved.

Macklemore, real name Ben Haggerty, joined campaigners in his hometown of Seattle, Washington and TV footage from local station King5 News shows the demonstrators chanting "Don't shoot" with their hands raised.

When asked why he got involved, Haggerty replies, "Solidarity - it's about Mike Brown, it's not about me."

A Tribe Called Quest frontman Q-Tip used Twitter.com to discover the location of New York protesters and was later caught on camera leading chants of "Hands up don't shoot" and "Whose streets? Our streets" with campaigners.

Many celebrities took to their Twitter.com accounts on Monday night to condemn the ruling and to implore Ferguson residents to protest peacefully.