Activists organize fund-raising show for Flint on Oscar night
For some of the stars who said they'd stay away from the Oscars in protest of the all-white slate of acting nominees, there's something else to do Sunday night: A free show for safe-water-deprived Flint, Mich.
Among the big names on the #JusticeForFlint Oscar alternative event: Ava DuVernay, director of the 2014 Oscar-nominated film Selma, and director/writer Ryan Coogler, whose film, Creed, is up for a best-supporting actor award for star Sylvester Stallone on Sunday.
(Both directors were overlooked for the best director nominations, DuVernay in 2015 and Coogler in 2016.)
The Flint show, which will feature live performances and conversations with artists, will be hosted by comedian Hannibal Buress.
Singers Janelle Monae and Andra Day, actors Jesse Williams of Grey's Anatomy and Jussie Smollett of Empire, hip-hop artists Jasiri X, Mysonne, and Vic Mensa, plus Detroit hip-hop producers Royce da 5'9 and Denaun Porter, are among those confirmed, according to organizer Blackout for Human Rights.
Blackout for Human Rights is a network of artists, activists, filmmakers and musicians focused on raising awareness of human-rights violations in the USA.
Founded by Coogler, the collective includes Michael B. Jordan (who stars in Creed), DuVernay, Williams, Charles King, Nate Parker, John Burris, Donald "Childish Gambino" Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosa Clemente, Scott Budnick, David Oyelowo, Michael McBride and others.
The group, which announced the event on Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday, has dubbed the show #JusticeForFlint, and says it's designed to raise awareness of Flint's plight, raise funds and promote solidarity with the city affected by lead-poisoned water now flowing through its taps.
The Feb. 28 date for the event coincides with the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, but it's also the last weekend of Black History Month.
"The event will also be broadcast online via livestream," the group announced, and donations will be collected via text. "All funds will be used to benefit the residents of Flint impacted by the water crisis, particularly the most marginalized communities." Many of Flint's residents are black and poor children who are at the most risk of lead poisoning.
The event is being sponsored by Flint-based organizations, such as Michigan Faith In Action and the Flint Democracy Defense League, and national organizations such as the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 10.