Earlier this week, several sports teams
boycotted games and refused to play in protest over the shooting of Jacob Blake. Now, Patrisse Cullors, a TV writer and the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, is calling on the film and television industry to follow in the footsteps of the sports world and join the protest against anti-Black police violence. It’s time, says Cullors, for Hollywood to speak up and take action in support of Black lives with a work stoppage of its own.Blake was shot in the back seven times by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 23. He remains in hospital
handcuffed to his bed, despite reports that he has been paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting.[video_embed id='2023176']RELATED: Pro-athletes launch widespread sports boycotts over anti-Black violence[/video_embed]“People are tired of having to say the same thing over and over again, and not seeing the change that we deserve from either party, frankly,” Cullors told
The Hollywood Reporter, expressing her anger and frustration over what is only the most recent incident of police violence against the Black community.“I think the work that we're up against right now is to ensure that we can get Trump out of office, but also ensure that we can get the Democratic Party to truly create policies that will make sure that Black people are protected from vigilantes and from police torture.”To that end, the activist and writer behind the series
Good Trouble says that Hollywood must also do its part and send a message and hold people in power accountable.“I think it's time for talent, writers, executives, the guild and SAG to show up for Black lives as well,” she said. “Join this strike. Now is the time and our movement is really looking to unions to step in in a particular way and say 'We're going to hold back on allowing for the exploitation and the degradation of Black communities to continue under our watch.’”Hollywood—especially Black artists and creators—has not remained wholly silent, of course, as protests and demonstrations sprang up following the murder of George Floyd in late May. Cullors is suggesting that major players in the industry take the next step in the demand for social justice and the end to anti-Black violence that has so far seen celebrities
attending protests,
making speeches, organizing bail funds and
financially supporting fellow protesters.“I think Hollywood can really show up in this moment,” says Cullors.The world is watching whether or not the powers that be heed her call-to-action.[video_embed id='2023788']RELATED: Tyrese Gibson responds to George Floyd's death and police brutality in new song 'Legendary'[/video_embed]
