Blackout For Human Rights Hosts Black Friday Boycott, Events

By Kenrya Rankin Nov 22, 2016

The day after Thanksgiving marks Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. For the third year in a row, Blackout for Human Rights—a coalition of artists and activists that includes founder Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay and Jesse Williams—wants Americans to boycott major retailers and companies that violate human rights or “profit off of the pain and suffering of others.”

Participants are encouraged to support small businesses and sign up for the accompanying Thunderclap campaign, called “#BlackoutBlackFriday: Nationwide Black Friday Boycott & Day of Action to Ignite Change & Stand United Against Racism,” to strengthen the movement.

From the Thunderclap:

Our lives are joined by the money we spend as consumers. Today, more than ever, the levers of power—civic, corporate, industrial, capital—are tied to one another and to our economy. Major chains like Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target depend on our shopping to keep them afloat, especially during the holiday season but the lives of our brothers and sisters are worth more than the dollars we can save on holiday gifts. Let’s demonstrate our unity. Take this single day off of shopping to #ShowYourWorth.

In addition to the #BlackOutFriday (November 25) economic boycott, the organization is hosting free events in Los Angeles, New York City and Oakland to celebrate the arts and hold space for activists to band together in the face of civil rights violations that are impacting people of color across the nation, from Standing Rock to Flint:

New York City at 5 p.m. ET
Film Society Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center Theater (144 W. 65th Street, New York, NY 10023)
Advance screening and panel discussion of Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro
RSVP: Free tickets at door, limited seating

Los Angeles at 1 p.m. PT
Cinefamily at The Silent Movie Theatre (611 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036)
Screening of Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” advance screening and panel discussion of Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro”
RSVP

Oakland at 3 p.m. PT
Red Bay Coffee (3098 E 10th St, Oakland, CA 94601)
Screening of Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” live performances by Chinaka Hodge and Samora Pinderhughes
RSVP: Free tickets at door, limited seating