Actor Isaiah Washington is urging African-Americans nationwide to protest the recent killings of black men at the hands of police by boycotting work, school and shopping for 24 hours.
The former Grey’s Anatomy star took to Facebook on Tuesday asking that African-Americans across the United States consider staying home from work, from school and from shopping on Monday to show that black lives matter.
“Imagine if every single African American in the United States that was really fed up with being angry, sad and disgusted, would pick ONE DAY to simply ‘stay at home’ from every single job, work site, sports arena and government office in the United States of America.”
Isaiah Washington tells African Americans to boycott work Monday https://t.co/grVg7yPRtQ pic.twitter.com/TIYOjgMxWd
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 25, 2016
Washington says he believes a united voice against police brutality will entice people to finally take notice.
“I’m very sure that within 72 hours from Wall Street to the NFL…Black Lives Would Matter. September 26, 2016, is THE DAY.”
Actor #IsaiahWashington speaks pic.twitter.com/LbnGI3OCof
— Tha Celebritea News (@thacelebritea) September 21, 2016
Washington used the hashtag #missing24 after teaming up activist Madelon Blue McCullough from #Missing24.
“After a lengthy and substantive discussion with Madelon “Blue” McCullough from #Missing24, we have united our efforts regarding boycotting the very system that was built on the backs of black people here in America. Every African born in America is fed up, hurt, confused, saddened and angry about the continued extrajudicial killings by public servants in our streets, so collectively we bring forth a solution.”
Another hashtag used is #HandsUpDontShoot, referring to the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. The slogan was generated after the unarmed teen was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri.
. @IWashington of “Grey’s Anatomy” calls on African-Americans to boycott work to protest recent killings of black men https://t.co/1NklGgZ73n pic.twitter.com/5YjW8rHR4V
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 23, 2016
He also used the hashtag #RIPTerenceCrutcher, referring to the death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher, who was shot and killed by Tulsa police on Sept. 16 after his SUV stalled on the road. His name started trending after video footage released by police began circulating showing Crutcher getting shot after being confronted by four officers, according to USA Today .
“Every African born in America is fed up, hurt, confused, saddened and angry about the continued extrajudicial killings by public servants in our streets, so collectively we bring forth a solution.”
A final hashtag circulating on social media, created by Washington, is #StayAtHomeSeptember262016.
Washington noted that the goal is to “maintain the safety of our people, while significantly impacting America’s broken judicial system that is oppressing us by removing our labor, our bodies and our money from it…for 24 hours.”
@IWashington created a flyer that echos your call to action pic.twitter.com/jmuMzYp7v3
— N. Tinson-Johnson (@Nikki_T) September 21, 2016
The actor has refused to speak with the media this week and says he will not speak to any member of the media until after the boycott on Monday.
“We must change this nation’s low and awful view about black people…in A DAY. Lastly, I will only speak to the press after WE #ShutItDown on September 26, 2016.”
On social media, many African-Americans responded by stating they will participate in #Missing24 and refuse to go anywhere or eat anything that isn’t black owned.
#EconomicAllStop , 9/26/16 NO SPENDING ANYWHERE….Use our economic power to make a stand! #BlackLivesMatter , #MISSING24
— Elsa Cornish (@elsa_raven) September 22, 2016
Would you rather risk losing your job that underpays you anyways or continue to risk losing your child’s LIFE your life #Missing24 ?!
— Mechelle (@MeeshHearts) September 24, 2016
I’m not going to work, school, or eating anything Monday. Unless it’s black owned #missing24
— TUKAY (@TukayMusic) September 24, 2016
No shopping, no work, no building a country’s economy that continues to murder innocent black people. #Missing24
— Sydney. (@WarnTheWorld) September 23, 2016
[Featured Image by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Images]
