Pharrell takes a knee at his Charlottesville concert last night

“Can’t nobody tell me what to do. If I wanna get on my knees right now for the people in my city, for the people in my state, that’s what that flag is for,” a fiery Pharrell Williams told a cheering crowd as he fell to both knees on stage at A Concert for Charlottesville on Sunday night.

Pharrell wasn’t the only performer to make a gesture of solidarity. Justin Timberlake also knelt on stage, becoming the latest in a string of public figures to support a movement of peaceful protest led by NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick.

Main headliner Stevie Wonder, came onstage as the closeout act, and drilled home the politically-charged nature of the festival by taking not one – but two knees. “Tonight I'm taking a knee for America,” he said, receiving assistance from his son as he lowered himself. “But not just one knee, both knees. Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world and our globe. Amen. I wanted to say that prayer before I serve you my musical meal. Is that OK?” he asked. “Are y'all ready to have some fun?”

Billed as “an evening of music and unity,” the concert hosted by the Dave Matthews Band, which was formed in Charlottesville more than 25 years ago, drew tens of thousands to University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium more than a month after white supremacists descended upon the city.

At an Alabama rally Friday night, Trump verbally attacked NFL players like Colin Kaepernick who kneel during the National Anthem, saying they should “get that son of a bitch off the field right now, he’s fired.”

Saturday morning, Trump rescinded the Golden State Warriors’ invitation to the White House because of Stephen Curry’s reluctance to take part in the tradition. Athletes in the NBA and the NFL turned to social media to criticize Trump, who LeBron James called a “bum.”

Saturday night also witnessed Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell become the first major league baseball player to take part in an anthem protest.

During Wonder’s set, the singer teamed with Pharrell Williams for a trio of songs, including “Happy,” “Superstition” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” which Wonder previously performed alongside Williams and the French duo at the 2014 Grammys.

Performers also included Ariana Grande, Chris Stapleton, Brittany Howard, The Roots, Cage the Elephant, as well as surprise guest Chris Martin and more.


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