In an unprecedented move, media platforms across the country issued statements supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.Netflix, Hulu, HBO, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Starz and Quibi each issued a statement supporting the movement and condemning American systemic violence and racism against African Americans. HBO and HBO Max even changed the names of their respective Twitter accounts to #BlackLivesMatter.The CEO of Paramount Jim Gianopulos also sent out a memo to the company's employees, expressing his sadness over the incidents.
The statements come following the death of a George Floyd at the hands of Officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. It is the latest killing of an African America man by a white police officer. The officer has since been fired, arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Over the weekend, protests erupted across the country, including Minnesota, New York, California, New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Washington and Michigan. They have even spread across the globe, with demonstrations being held in London, Berlin and Toronto.
Many state governments have dispatched the national guard to try and keep the protests under control. While many of the protests have remained peaceful, some have fractured into violence and looting. The White House went on partial lockdown on Friday night as a response to the protests.
The full internal memo from Gianopulos to Paramount employees can be found below:
Dear Colleagues,
Across our nation, we are witnessing the real-time expression of years and years of collective pain. The addition of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor to an already unbearable tally of those who have been killed because of the color of their skin has brought to a boiling point the outrage over the systemic racial injustice in this country.
As children, we learn the pledge of allegiance, with the concluding promise that ours is a country built on “liberty and justice for all.†What we have seen in these past several weeks, and if we’re being honest with ourselves, centuries, is example after example of the gap between this promise and the reality in which many live. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.†That these words bear repeating today is a painful reminder of how far we have to go as a society in ensuring justice for all. Too many members of the Black community have had their breath stolen from them through racial injustice.
As a nation, our heartbreak and outrage are not enough. The fabric of our society, the founding promise that all men are created equal, is broken, and it is the responsibility of all of us to raise our voices and be part of the solution. At the same time, we have an opportunity for internal reflection as we ask ourselves hard questions about the beliefs that are entrenched in our culture, and explore how we can become better citizens and stewards for one another. We must be better, and we will be better, with love and humanity leading the way.
I know that this comes at a time when tensions are already high and anxiety is ubiquitous as we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic. In the midst of this incredibly difficult time, know that we are here for you and we remain a community and company that is stronger together and committed to racial and social justice.
Please take care of yourselves and your families and we will strive together to overcome these troubled times.
With my heartfelt wishes to you all,
Jim
(Via Variety.)