Last June 2, online users including celebrities marked the #blackoutTuesday by uploading a black photo on their Instagram accounts. This effort was supported by various organizations, national brands, and even musicians to condemn racism and police violence after the tragic death of George Floyd.
Aside from peaceful protests and sympathetic statements, the cartoon network, Nickelodeon made a different way to show unity with the “Black lives matter” movement by shutting off their airwaves. They went off the air for 8 minutes and 46 seconds which is the exact time that Floyd was pinned to the ground by a policeman named Derek Chauvin using his knee on the victim’s neck.
In order to express support of “justice, equality, and human rights”, the network also featured the updated version of the “Declaration of Kids’ Rights” which was aired 30 years ago.
we are all part of the change #blacklivesmatter
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 pic.twitter.com/Y3Fzvob54X— Nickelodeon (@Nickelodeon) June 1, 2020
Many people were touched by the network’s effort—in fact, a Twitter user described it as a “powerful message” to educate children about equality, which is significant in terms of building a better society.
Nickelodeon also posted an 8-minute video (through its sister network, MTV) showing the words “I can’t breathe”, accompanied by a breathing sound.
Here’s to hoping that more people will continue to speak out and stand up against all forms of discrimination.
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