Heart Evangelista, Winwyn Marquez, Catriona Gray, and other PH celebs join Blackout Tuesday
When you woke up today, you may be wondering why your Instagram feed has been filled by black squares.
Well, celebrities, corporations, and brands have vowed not to post on their accounts on what is called Blackout Tuesday following the death of George Floyd, which has led to protests worldwide.
The idea is very simple, fill Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with black squares, freeing up the time for people to educate themselves on the Black Lives Matter movement.
The idea was spearheaded by music executives Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang who urged supporters to “take a beat for an honest, reflective, and productive conversation about what actions we need to collectively take to support the black community,” as stated on their website.
A wave of well-known celebrities, both local and abroad, have posted black squares on their respective social media accounts to their millions of followers.
This includes Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray who posted an illustration of two hands intertwined with each other with the caption, “Post. Listen. Lean in.
“It only becomes more than a 'post' when we take action; either by educating ourselves, donating towards organizations that are creating change, signing petitions… changing mindsets. Let's take strides towards change together.
Alexander Lee also posted a photo of a black square and reminded his followers that all humans are created equally.
Adding, “The other fact that I wish I didn't exist is racism. How ridiculous and sad.
“Let's be honest, many Asians were racist victims for COVID-19 too, if you know what I mean. Stop pretending that racism is fine and could be ignored. It's time for people to realize and change. This world needs a change and it starts with every one of us.”
Kapuso celebrities like Heart Evangelista, Winwyn Marquez, Sunshine Dizon, Michelle Dee, and Rovilson Fernandez also took part in the movement.
Furthermore, international brands and corporations such as Chanel, Prada, Columbia Records, Warner Music, TikTok, and even Sesame Street participated by taking the time to air their stand against racism and police brutality.
Blackout Tuesday and Black Lives Matter Movement
A 46-year-old bouncer named George Floyd was accused of buying cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill on May 25.
The same day, George was killed by Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin by pressing his knee into the former's neck until he died while three other policemen watched.
Derek had his knee on George's neck for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total.
Based on the footage taken by bystanders and CCTV footages, George Floyd was seen lying face down and handcuffed, groaning for help while repeatedly saying, “Please, I can't breathe,” before becoming unresponsive.
The day after George Floyd's death, the Police Department fired all of the four officers involved in the episode, and Derek was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three former officers, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao remain under investigation.
On June 1st, a medical examiner in Minnesota classified George Floyd's death as a homicide.
Following George Floyd's death, demonstrations have broken out across the US and other parts of the world restoring the Black Lives Matter movement since its foundation in 2013.
The #BlackLivesMatter movement campaigns against violence and systematic racism towards black people following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of African-American teen Trayvon Martin in February 2012.
According to its website, the movement's mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”
This is a developing story.
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