#JusticeForFlint on Oscar Night Raises More Than $100K
Stevie Wonder performs at the #JusticeForFlint event on Feb. 28 (Photo: Conor Ralph/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)
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.
Related: Diddy and Mark Wahlberg’s Company to Donate 1 Million Water Bottles to the Flint Water Crisis
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:
Folks are standing up for Flint! Since last night’s #JusticeForFlint show, 3635 activists have raised their voices w/ $145k toward recovery!
Oscar audience raises $65k for cookies. Can we raise $100k for folks poisoned by their own water? Text JUSTICE to 83224! #JusticeForFlint
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:
#JusticeForFlint: @Ledisi Performing Live in #Flint! Tune In at https://t.co/XkYjYyyJTW NOW! pic.twitter.com/2I0n7w69fa
We’re Honored to Have ‘The Young Flint Poets’ Perform & Speak Truth at #JusticeForFlint Tonight. pic.twitter.com/EPfbWaKuIB
Denaun & Royce da 5'9 Turning Up Tonight in #Flint at #JusticeForFlint! Watch Now at https://t.co/VNuB5xw2vG pic.twitter.com/U3qyQDD433
#JusticeForFlint: @jsullivanmusic absolutely killing it tonight. Watch live at https://t.co/VNuB5xerE8! pic.twitter.com/E9KgZHp9rm
#Flint is On It’s Feet for @DeJLoaf Right Now. Tune In at https://t.co/VNuB5xerE8 & Please RT! #JusticeForFlint pic.twitter.com/Q4qdgo9IPk
#JusticeForFlint: @JanelleMonae Performing Live. Tune In Now Before the Surprise Guest at https://t.co/VNuB5xerE8 pic.twitter.com/9c7j8LjWEq
“Flint is the Same Song But a Different Key” Stevie Wonder on Environmental Racism at #JusticeForFlint pic.twitter.com/1rwChQQGM0
#StevieWonder & @JanelleMonae Performing at #JusticeForFlint in #Flint: https://t.co/VNuB5xw2vG pic.twitter.com/PAgXhLJ5sv
Related: Pearl Jam, Jack White, Meek Mill Others Rally to Help Flint
At time of publication, you could still stream a full encore round of #JusticeForFlint (and could continue to donate to the cause by texting JUSTICE to 83224):
For more from the event, head here.
This post has been updated throughout.
