Minnesota Rapper Defends 'Radical' Social Media Posts About France Protests
Rapper Tufawon, who recently visited a French high school with Greta Thunberg, stated his comments were figurative and not intended to incite violence.
Minnesota rapper Tufawon, whose real name is Rafael Gonzalez Jr., has defended his social media posts that expressed solidarity with the increasingly violent protests in France, which resulted in approximately 2,500 arrests over a single weekend. Tufawon, 40, visited Lycée Paul Éluard in Saint-Denis, a school that became a focal point for student demonstrations, alongside activist Greta Thunberg.
Following the visit, Tufawon posted on Facebook, "Do I think way more people need to become radicalized here? Absolutely, especially white people, and that’s where I think we can take influence from the French. All Power to the People! Go f— s— up white people. It's your time." He later clarified in a statement to The New York Post that these remarks were intended as "figurative speech" and not as incitement to violence.
In an earlier post, Tufawon had explained that when he called for white Americans to "raise hell" or "f— s— up" in response to perceived fascism and authoritarianism, he meant they should "take it to next level peacefully and legally."
The protests in France began as student demonstrations against educational conditions and funding cuts but evolved into widespread riots involving various political and ideological groups. Images and videos from the weekend showed extensive property damage, including looted shops, burning vehicles, and a historic town hall in Marseilles set ablaze. French officials reported that the unrest caused approximately $1 billion in damages.
Tufawon, who is part Native American, stated his participation in some French protests was spontaneous as he was on vacation in the country. In one video, he was seen chanting "f— ICE" and "ICE out" before performing his song "No One Is Illegal."
A Fox News Digital investigation indicated that communist organizations, Islamic advocacy groups, labor unions, and environmental activists were involved in the unrest. President Donald Trump has publicly warned against similar actions in the U.S., stating federal law enforcement would respond forcefully to any rioters.
More demonstrations were planned across France, with authorities preparing for significant security deployments to manage potential unrest.