After a wonderfully successful 2014 initiative, the Blackout for Human Rights network is, once again, calling on Americans to boycott "Black Friday" and instead stand with Minneapolis, Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, D.C., Staten Island, Oakland, and all those who have endured at times fatal race- and class-based acts of brutality. Full details follow below.
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Blackout for Human Rights (Blackout) is a nationwide network of high profile artists, activists and faith leaders, who stand against human rights violations against US citizens perpetrated by public servants or condoned by government entities.
Blackout’s second year of action launches with a call to action encouraging all concerned citizens to join in a nationwide economic Blackout on Black Friday, one of the most important shopping days of the year.
Blackout Black Friday 2015 is just one action among many, year-round consciousness-raising activities organized by Blackout for Human Rights, including screenings, food and supply giveaways, talks and day-long festivals.
In solidarity with similarly aligned movements such as #StudentBlackout, Black Lives Matter and Justice or Else, Blackout for Human Rights has organized days of action in Oakland, New York City and Los Angeles, and calls for a complete #BlackoutBlackFriday on November 27th, 2015. New York events at the historic Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center will begin at 5pm with a screening of the documentary “BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez.” A Q&A with the legendary poet Sonia Sanchez, filmmakers Sabrina Gordon, Michele Stephenson, and poet/activist Ewuare Osayande, and activist Rahiel Tesfamariam will follow. At 7:50pm the screenings will be capped by a concert and spoken word performance featuring musicians Samora Pinderhughes, Chris Turner, Bilal Salaam, producer PUDGE and young poets from Urban Word NYC.
Oakland events at New Parkway Theater begin at 2:30 and include: a free screening of a short film program, a double low-cost* feature of Stanley Nelson’s "The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution" and "BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez."
Los Angeles events at Downtown Independent Theater begin at 2:30pm, and include two film screenings: “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution;” “Imperial Dreams” by director Malik Vitthal; and a documentary on the Justice or Else movement. There will also be spoken word performances, panel discussions and a toiletry and supplies giveaway on Skid Row to follow.
All events are free and open to the public with a suggested donation of canned goods, non-perishable items and toiletries to be given away to those in need and at local shelters over the holiday weekend.
*The Oakland feature film screening has a $10 charge associated.
Blackout for Human Rights is a network of artists, filmmakers, activists and organizers, founded in 2014.
For more information about this year’s events and/or the organization, contact Blackout for Human Rights at UnitedBlackout@gmail.com.
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