A s you well know, on May 25th, 2020, Minneapolis police officers accosted George Floyd for reportedly using a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill at a local store. Aided by three other police officers, Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of a handcuffed, unarmed, non-violent Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, murdering him.
Floyd's death has sparked protests across the world with millions demanding justice, total police reform, undivided support for Black Lives Matter , and more. Social media is ablaze with advocacy, guerrilla journalism, solidarity, and relief efforts (e.g. aggregation and delivery of key supplies for protestors). It's a crucial time of heightened media consumption and, in turn, heightened influence. Everyone is chiming in, whether that's through discussions, posts, donations, protests, or votes.
Based on our findings, 35% of active virtual influencers have used their platform to support protestors in some way. From posts showing solidarity to helpful resources to pledging support for #BlackLivesMatter, many of these 'virtual' influencers use their platforms for real good.
35% of active virtual influencers have used their platform to support protestors in some way. Below, we've aggregated all virtual influencer posts on the topic (as well as some story posts) in one feed as protests continue to grow. We predict more virtual influencers will use their platform to speak out and advocate for change.
In no order, here are resources and perspectives shared by virtual influencers:
View this post on Instagram
I AM DEVASTED 🙏🏾 JUSTICE!!! Shocked, heartbroken, and furious. Those are just some of the words to describe many people who came across the disturbing video showing a white Minneapolis police officer pinning a black man to the ground with his knees moments before he loses consciousness and dies. via @hollywoodunlocked Staff: Kecia Gayle @kecia.kae NSFW #georgefloyd #justice #NeverBeSilent #guncontrol #minneapolis #america ______________________________________________________________ The clip was taken by a bystander in south Minneapolis on Monday. Apparently, cops were responding to a "forgery in progress” when they arrived at the scene and saw the unidentified man sitting in a car. According to the Department, the man resisted arrest so he was placed in handcuffs, adding "he appeared to be suffering medical distress." The Department also noted that "At no time were weapons of any type used by anyone involved in this incident." ______________________________________________________________ In the now-viral clip, you could hear the man begging, “Please. Please, I cannot breathe,” repeatedly to the cops. The arresting officer continues to kneel on the man's neck for several minutes and ignores the man as he moans in pain. The other officers on the scene also ignores the man. But a passerby can be heard yelling, "That's bulls***, bro. You're stopping his breathing right there, bro. Get him off the ground, bro," adding the officer was "enjoying it." Several other witnesses are then heard arguing with the two arresting officers over their excessive use of force. Sadly, the man becomes motionless. An ambulance eventually shows up and the man is taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. ______________________________________________________________ Read more at hollywoodunlocked.com 📸: Photo Credit: Facebook
A post shared by noonoouri (@noonoouri) on May 26, 2020 at 3:30pm PDT
@lilmiquela directs people to orgs, then donates $100 herself
@knoxfrost directs people to visit vote.org @danabeauvoir shares information about protesting safely
@fnmeka calls for Police reform and urges his fans to stay safe
@opalslutuniverse
@jedyvales passes along "Treat racism like COVID-19, assume you have it."
@ono.gram
@yameiionline changes their avatar and links to BLM
View this post on Instagram
WE ARE IN A MOMENT. There is a plan. This is next: @grassrootslaw via @shaunking and @leemerrittesq 1. Working with activists, scholars, policy experts, and impacted families, we crafted a policy plan that will radically change the system and confront police brutality and mass incarceration head on. 2. We have built a way for you to volunteer with us, no matter where you are, to help make this plan a reality. 3. We have formed a board of advisors to include the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Bell, Rodney Reed, Oscar Grant, Nate Woods, Philando Castile, and Christopher Kearney. 4. We have just hired 5 brilliant new full time organizers, to join our team of 5 other full time organizers, to help us recruit, manage, train, and deploy hundreds of thousands, or even millions of volunteers. 5. Again, I am not being paid for this work. So anybody telling you I am using this for personal gain is lying. I am a volunteer. I have volunteered for this work my whole life and have never been paid for it. I do this for the love. DONATE with confidence that we are putting this to great use. Our call tool alone for the past month cost over $40,000. Our super petition tool, which emails every elected official we tag, cost over $25,000 last month. But they are working!! 6. WE NEED YOU. Sign up right now by clicking the link in my bio or going directly to GrassrootsLaw.org. This is for us. It’s for our communities. It’s to help us radically change the systems of brutality and oppression —TOGETHER. Join us now @ GrassrootsLaw.org and follow @grassrootslaw 7. SHARE THIS with everybody you know. Post it to your stories. Tag me and @leemerrittesq and @grassrootslaw. 🎥: Video produced by @blackbythenumbers Follow Black By The Numbers for data-driven content on the black experience. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 #blacklivesmatter #change #icantbreathe #georgefloyd #together #EndViolence #peace #future #hope #noonoouri
A post shared by noonoouri (@noonoouri) on Jun 4, 2020 at 2:06am PDT
@shudu.gram leverages her story to praise brand action
@ivaany.h shares a message about racism abroad
@alizarexx pushes followers to support Black-owned business
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