We Remember You

This song was created by the No Enemies Choir (a local movement music group convened by Flobots) and shared in community on the one-year anniversary of Mike Brown’s death in Denver, Colorado.

This song was created by the No Enemies Choir (a local movement music group convened by Flobots) and shared in community on the one-year anniversary of Mike Brown’s death in Denver, Colorado.

This rap, written by Jamie Laurie, is a tribute to Dr. Vincent Harding. Inspired by the song “We Remember You” by the No Enemies Choir—which honors Mike Brown and others lost to police violence—Jamie’s piece builds on the song’s spirit of remembrance and resistance.

Lyrics:
We remember you…

I was on a date when I learned you had passed
Through an email when I checked my phone in the bathroom
Short of breath when I was stepping out
I apologized and went to Stephen’s house
Man, we knew it had to happen someday
But on May 19 somebody snatched the sun away
Reflecting on which path we wanted to take
Took a step back and saw that you’d already shown the way
Cause even after death we knew what you’d say
We didn’t have to guess or resuscitate
We could feel your presence from beyond
Cause your message to the young activists never fluctuates
Every time you told us you believed in us
You breathed another breath into each of us
Reaching up with gratitude since you died
Cause we never could imagine you remained so alive

We remember you…

The Flobots, Jamie Laurie and Stephen Brackett joined Freedom Church of the Poor and Songs in the Key of Resistance (SKOR) on Sunday, November 12 to echo the cries of people around the world who were rising up to demand a Ceasefire Now! We came together as Muslims and Jews, Christians, and non-believers; as leaders from movements for racial, economic, climate, gender justice and more to share music and art resources that can amplify our voices in this moment. We gathered to remind ourselves that we are not alone and that in these times—silence is betrayal.

We gathered as song leaders and artists from across the country who had been leading protests and sharing resistance art to strengthen our communities with courage and to let the world know what peace and justice sounds and feels like. In this clip, Jamie and Stephen tell the story of developing music for the movement and in particular the story behind “We Remember You.” This song was created by the No Enemies Choir (a local movement music group convened by Flobots) and shared in community on the one-year anniversary of Mike Brown’s death in Denver, Colorado. Co-Sponsors of the November 2023 SKOR session included RisingMajority, Adalah Justice Project, and Dream Defenders.