Black Women's Blueprint organized a "March for Black Women," on Saturday, against singer, R. Kelly, outside of his concert held at FREQ and Highline Theaters in New York City. The protest, which brought together dozens of women, targeted sexual abusers.
"This is not new. While R.Kelly’s concert is this weekend, it is not just R.Kelly. Over the past twenty years it has been Mike Tyson, Clarence Thomas, Cee-lo Green, Nate Parker, Bill Cosby, Russell Simmons, all stand accused by Black women and girls now piecing their lives back together after rape, sexual harassment and abuse unknown numbers of Black men within our communities, celebrity and non-celebrity, have been reported by their victims," the group said in a statement to Blavity.
The #MeToo movement has provoked a conversation on the black community's complicity in sexual assault, abuse and violence. In August, an investigation into Kelly's alleged "sex cult" leaked and created waves across multiple news platforms. The exposé reincarnated long-reported stories of his alleged sexual misconduct with teenaged girls.
Various anti-sexual assault advocates have incorporated the #MuteRKelly movement, claiming that his continued support has gone too far.
"For hundreds of years, Black women—from the Antebellum South to today’s justice movements—have deployed our voices as weapons in the struggles against white supremacy and misogyny. Modern day Black feminists in this country have organized for decades, denouncing sexual abuse through literature, protests, initiating legal cases against sexual violence that occurs in private homes and public spaces."
Black Women's Blueprint wants to put an end to any further support of sexual abusers, whether that means their music, films, or celebrations that honor them. The organization's primary mission to protect black girls, who are often left behind in these kind of conversations.
According to the Black Women's Blueprint press release:
"Anti-rape organizations, individual advocates and Black people concerned for victims and survivors must rally not just on Saturday, but everyday to ensure the safety and protection of Black girls in particular,"
