By Jackson McHenry and Sean Fitz-Gerald, Vulture
In tandem with the Academy Awards on February 28, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Hannibal Buress, Jesse Williams, and Janelle Monáe threw a free event in Flint, Michigan, to raise awareness and money for the city’s water crisis, as well as Stateside human-rights violations. Dubbed #JUSTICEFORFLINT, the event was hosted by Buress and livestreamed via Revolt.TV. Along with musical performances, organizers had asked members of the Flint community to share their experiences with the audience. Coogler — whose Creed earned Sylvester Stallone an acting nomination, but was otherwise ignored by the Academy — told BuzzFeed that organizers chose to hold #JUSTICEFORFLINT on the Sunday because it fell on the final weekend of Black History Month. According to him, the timing was merely a coincidence.
UPDATE: After the Oscars wrapped, DuVernay tweeted that the goal of raising $100,000 for Flint’s short- and long-term recovery efforts had been reached:
Oscar audience raises $65k for cookies. Can we raise $100k for folks poisoned by their own water? Text JUSTICE to 83224! #JusticeForFlint
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) February 29, 2016
No paid promotion. All word of mouth. $122k raised tonight for Flint recovery. Thank you to all 3022 activists who donated. #JusticeForFlint
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) February 29, 2016
Activists continue to donate to #JusticeForFlint hours after our show ended. The tally is now $133k from 3306 donations. For Flint. Onward!
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) February 29, 2016
Aside from the successful donation haul, the night also included triumphant appearances by Flint poets, Jazmine Sullivan, Dej Loaf, Vic Mensa (plus a new song), Monaé, and surprise guest Stevie Wonder, among many others:
We’re Honored to Have ‘The Young Flint Poets’ Perform & Speak Truth at #JusticeForFlint Tonight. pic.twitter.com/EPfbWaKuIB
— #JusticeForFlint (@UnitedBlackout) February 28, 2016
#StevieWonder & @JanelleMonae Performing at #JusticeForFlint in #Flint: https://t.co/VNuB5xw2vGpic.twitter.com/PAgXhLJ5sv
— #JusticeForFlint (@UnitedBlackout) February 29, 2016
Read more at http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/coogler-duvernay-doing-flint-event-oscars-night.html
