Medias – Page 7 – Color Of Change

Archives: Medias

Livestreaming the Chauvin Trial Lets People of Color Monitor the Justice System

The Chauvin trial was Minnesota’s first criminal case to be televised and livestreamed. Racial justice activists believe this is a key step towards accountability from our legal system – letting people see how a criminal trial works and the arguments used to undermine justice and blame Black victims. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson, who tweeted his analysis of each day’s proceedings, agrees. “We oftentimes just see the trial and we don’t have any video of the killing.” This time, “we saw the crime, and now we’re seeing the trial.” It’s especially important, he says, for the public to see arguments “being made on behalf of police officers… laws that incentivize police to kill us without accountability.”

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Hollywood Reacts to NBC Dropping the Golden Globes: ‘Everything Matters’

Hollywood creatives took to Twitter weighing in on NBC’s refusal to air the 2022 Golden Globes because of the awards’ preference to bestow honors on white-led projects. Many praised the network’s decision as a step in the right direction. Ava DuVernay, who fearlessly explores racial inequality in films like “Selma” and “13th” and has been a champion of industry reform, thanked all of the creatives “who took a stand to make this so.” Color Of Change called the decision “a testament to the power” of their coalition. “We, along with the #TimesUp coalition, made our demands for the HFPA and Golden Globes clear. We also made it clear if they were not met, we expected NBC to keep their word about pushing the industry forward on race and diversity. The work to #ChangeHollywood continues: stay tuned for more.”

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President Biden’s Refusal to Eliminate Student Debt Is Out of Touch With Black Voters Who Helped Get Him Elected

Color Of Change Vice President Arisha Hatch writes about how Biden’s backslide on student debt forgiveness is a major step backwards in fulfilling the pledges he made to Black voters during his campaign. “Student loan debt is not just a national economic issue—it is also a racial justice issue at its core.” Between the racial wealth gap, predatory lending practices, and Black families’ limited access to bank loans, Black students just don’t have the same access to high quality education. Color Of Change just released a survey that shows 84% of Black voters support eliminating student debt. 40% want Biden to make sure any student admitted to public college can finish without taking on loans.

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3 Ways To Continue Demanding Justice Now That The Derek Chauvin Trial Is Over

The guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd is just the beginning of a long journey for officials to step up and enact real solutions that change the conditions Black people face at the hands of police, and move us towards true justice and reinvestment in our communities. Color Of Change is running campaigns to support the Department of Justice’s investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department’s practices, to fund non-policing public safety programs, and end qualified immunity once and for all.

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AMC Among First to Sign Up to Inclusion Rider Pushed by #ChangeHollywood

Three years after Frances McDormand mentioned the idea of an inclusion rider in her 2018 Oscars acceptance speech, a reimagined version has been launched. Color Of Change’s #ChangeHollywood joined Pearl Street Films and Endeavor Content to release an updated version. The new ‘n improved rider focuses on inclusive hiring, hiring targets, and resources to increase representation of women and people of color throughout Hollywood. All the tools are available at www.inclusionrider.org. COC President Rashad Robinson says, “So far, few executives, studios, productions and agencies in Hollywood have actually backed up their statements about racial equity with action. These crucial resources will help raise the industry’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.”

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Activists Take Next Step in Push to Replace Minneapolis PD

A charter amendment to replace the Minneapolis Police Department is one step closer to going before voters in November. Yes 4 Minneapolis, a coalition of 20+ racial justice and community activist groups including Color Of Change, delivered 20,000 signatures to officials at City Hall. Their proposed amendment would replace the police department with a new Department of Public Safety and shift authority over police from the mayor to the City Council. They city is under pressure to overhaul policing since George Floyd was killed by Derek Chauvin in May 2020. Antonio Williams said he had spoken with many Minneapolis residents who experienced brutality, injustice and indifference at the hands of city police. “Give us a chance, give us a choice to choose something new that works for all people.”

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Biden’s Sky-High Promises on Racial Justice

After George Floyd, many Democratic voters and politicians found themselves getting a crash course in racial inequality. Biden, who was responsible for the 1994 crime bill that spurred mass incarceration, is now vowing to make confronting systemic racism and uplift Black people a tenet of his administration. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson is quoted in this New York Times’ article on how Biden is evolving with the country when it comes to race and justice. “Biden is actually being Biden by being inside of all of the ways in which the current landscape is sending him messages. That is good, but I don’t want to be classifying this as some sort of out-front radical leadership. That would really not represent everything that could be possible if we leaned in more.” There’s still so much at stake from overhauling policing and investing in public safety to student loan forgiveness.

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Advancing Black Entrepreneurship Amid a Pandemic

Only 4% of Black-owned businesses in the U.S. survive past the startup stage, even though 20% of Black Americans start businesses, according to a new report by McKinsey and Company. The pandemic has forced many businesses to close their doors, and about 58% of Black-owned businesses were at risk of financial distress before the pandemic. This is consistent with what Color Of Change’s survey found last year: 40% of Black businesses said they could only last another six months, compared with 55% of their white business owner counterparts. The wealth gap, Color Of Change explains is reinforced by many factors from access to capital, bank loans, and relief programs like PPP that mean Black entrepreneurs have a much tougher time sustaining their businesses.

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As Big Corporations Strike a Pose for Racial Justice, They Keep on Funding the Police

Salon reports how corporations including AT&T, Target, and Starbucks have embraced racial justice rhetoric while continuing to funnel millions of dollars to police. While claiming to stand with Black employees, corporations pour money into law enforcement through police foundations. Because they are nonprofits, police foundations can raise unregulated slush funds from undisclosed sources, which they often use to buy special weapons and equipment not covered by city budgets. Color Of Change Vice President Arisha Hatch says, “Police foundations are really good at hiding what they’re actually spending their money on. These foundations exist completely off the books.” It’s a problem.

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A Surprise Ending for the Oscars’ Inclusive Night

Last year, the academy announced a plan requiring films to meet diversity criteria to be eligible for a best-picture nomination, starting in 2024. Still, those who have been critical of the way the film industry operates are not ready to heap too much praise on the academy. Rashad Robinson, behind Color Of Change’s #ChangeHollywood initiative is quoted. “What we have to constantly recognize is that an institution like the academy didn’t give anything to Black people. What the academy has done over the years is have a system and a set of rules that has stalled Black careers and prevented people from being fully seen. Now that they are working to make some changes, let’s acknowledge those changes but let’s not give them any awards that they haven’t earned.”

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‘Let This Be a Turning Point’: Chauvin Conviction Sparks Calls for ‘True Justice’

This is accountability, but not justice many have said in the wake of the guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. Common Dreams surveyed leaders at 20 organizations fighting for change. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson is quoted saying, “Nine minutes and 29 seconds will forever be supplanted in our hearts and memory… we use this moment to push for real change because the fight for accountability and justice in America is far from over. The Chauvin trial may be over, but what comes next will be the consequential moment in our history. We need to do more than raise our voices; we must demand action now.”

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Asian Americans Experienced Largest Rise in Severe Online Hate in 2020, Report Finds

A new survey by the Anti-defamation League reveals that Asian and Black people are experiencing serious increases in harassment online, while LGBTQ+ people face the highest rate. Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson said the results of the study were “unsurprising”, as it’s proven that online hate disproportionately affects communities of color. “For 5 years, Color Of Change has campaigned to bring attention to this growing threat, and we’ve implored Facebook to prioritize addressing the dangers of hate proliferating on their platform. At this point, only sweeping oversight and enforcement from the federal government will force Facebook to change its broken business model and violence-driven algorithm that incentivizes hate for profit.”

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