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Ava DuVernay

Filmmakers' #JusticeForFlint benefit raises $145K on Oscars night

Maria Puente
USA TODAY
Stevie Wonder performs at  #JusticeForFlint benefit show in Flint, Mich. on Feb. 28, 2016.

A fundraising benefit for water-poisoned Flint, Mich., raised nearly $150,000 during a live-streamed concert that featured a last-minute surprise performance by Stevie Wonder.

Ava DuVernay, one of two filmmakers who skipped the Oscars Sunday night to organize the Flint benefit at a local auditorium, tweeted Monday that the #JusticeForFlint show raised $145,000 in donations.

Revolt TV live-streamed the show.

During the evening, stars like Russell Simmons tweeted support and texted donations, including some who were back in Los Angeles at the Oscars, such as Kerry Washington.

Jessie Williams of Grey's Anatomy, who was at the show, kept up a steady stream of tweets and Instagram videos urging donations.

Comedian Hannibal Buress hosted the concert, which featured performances by Janelle Monae, Vic Mensa, Jazmine Sullivan, Dej Loaf and Michigan musicians and poets.

When Buress walked onto the stage Sunday evening, he looked out at 2,000 people in a dark auditorium and said, “What’s going on Flint? What’s going on Flintstones?”

Janelle Monae performs at #JusticeForFlint event in Flint, Mich.

The message from many of the performers: The Flint water crisis would never have happened in a richer, whiter city.

Riley: Stars gather to shine spotlight on Flint crisis

Director Ryan Coogler, like DuVernay in 2015 for Selma, was overlooked this year in the Oscar nominations for best director for his film, Creed. (Sylvester Stallone, the white star of the film, was the only nominee and he lost to Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies.)

Activists organize fund-raising show for Flint on Oscar night

The show was co- organized by local faith and activist groups and by Blackout for Human Rights, a network of artists, activists, filmmakers and musicians co-founded by Coogler and focused on raising awareness of human-rights violations in the USA.

Hannibal Buress hosted #JusticeForFlint event in Flint, Mich.

After the second year in a row of all-white nominations in the Academy Awards acting categories, Coogler and DuVernay decided to skip the Sunday night Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles and instead try to help Flint, a city with a population that is 40% black, recover from the disaster that has resulted in lead-poisoned water in the taps.

“We’ve really been moved by the hope you guys have and the bright future that’s here,” Coogler told the crowd, according to the Detroit Free Press. “So our heart really goes out to you. We’ve been inspired since we’ve been here."

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