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Bretman Rock calls out influencers for being “too quiet” about Black Lives Matter protests

“Yes, retweeting things is cute and all but that is not using your voice.”
  • 01 Jun 2020

CW: Abuse, police brutality and death.

Bretman Rock calls out influencers for being “too quiet” about Black Lives Matter protests

 YouTube beauty king Bretman Rock has criticised influencers for failing to use their platform to be an ally and inspire change during the current Black Lives Matter protests about the brutal murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man who was killed by police while under arrest.

Earlier this week, Rock, who has encouraged fans to donate and use their privilege to signal boost voices of people of colour and share the message, took to his Instagram Story to put the social media influencers who are remaining silent during this time on blast.

“Some people have just been too quiet lately and not using your voice,” Rock told fans in a series of Instagram Stories recorded and shared on the Beauty Guru Chatter subreddit. “Yes, retweeting things is cute and all but that is not using your voice.”

“That is not using your influence, it’s not. People need to hear your voice to really know.”

bretmanrock View Profile
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Let's not act like this is the first time you've seen the hashtag #blacklivesmatter and the name George Floyd. ✨Because this has been going on for way to long for you to act clueless when it comes to this issue. Black people pioneered and essentially created our culture today.. And they deserve to feel protected just like the rest of us because they are HUMANS. ✨❤️ I for one admit that I would not be who I am today without the influence and support from the black community and I believe that supporting this movement is the LEAST I can do.. Please use your platform to echo their voices, you do not need millions of followers to support a movement and most importantly you do not have to be black to support #blacklivesmatter

The former Vine comedian turned Da Baddest makeup YouTuber also criticised fellow social media influencers who were afraid of advocating about Black Lives Matter, the unjust death of George Floyd and racial discrimination and profiling of African-American people, in fear of “losing brand deals.”

“The excuses that I have been seeing [are]… lame,” he said. “Like, you don’t want to talk about Black Lives Matter because you’re afraid of losing brand deals? You’re worried about f**king money, b**ch? Right now? W-What…”

“I don’t even know any brand that would pull the plug on brand deals if you talk about things like this. I’m not here to talk about that. I really do not want this to be fed with anger, I just want to speak to the heart but people aren’t talking about it for their own self-benefits. That is not an influencer to me, I’m so sorry but… I can’t even talk about anything else.”

Bretman Rock addressing influencers who are too quiet for comfort about #BlackLivesMatter and George Floyd

What does it mean if someone remains silent?

In a video explaining the importance of being an ally to black Americans and using your white privilege during this period of needed change, writer Chrissy Rutherford said that “seeing people are silent yet posting their banal s**t like it’s any other day [on social media]… to me it says that you don’t care.”

“I can’t see it any other way. If you’re not black and not sharing what’s going on, to me you’re sending a message that you agree with what’s going on.”

“I don’t care if you have two million followers or two hundred followers, it’s important to make your point of view known. Otherwise, they might think you actually agree with what’s going on.”

chrissyford View Profile
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if you aren't doing the work. It's hurtful to see people being silent about the never-ending murders and oppression of black people in the US. I don't care how many followers you have, non-black people should be spreading awareness, educating themselves, sharing anti-racism resources and donating if they have the means to do so. It's also imperative to understand it is not our job to teach you how to not be racist. Finally: Check in on your black friends!

Why are people protesting?

On the 26th of May, 46-year-old African-American man George Floyd was arrested for allegedly possessing a counterfeit $20 note. Floyd, who did not resist arrest, was pressed against the ground by Officer Derek Chauvin, who then pressed his knee against his neck for more than eight minutes, cutting off Floyd's oxygen. During these eight minutes, Floyd told the officer “I can’t breathe,” “I’m going to die.” He passed out and died later at hospital. 

The protests—which, as of writing, are in their sixth consecutive day —began to demand justice for Floyd’s death and the persecution of Chauvin and the other officers at the scene, but speak to a larger issue about the historic systemic racism within the U.S. legal and judiciary system. In the same month, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Emergency Medical Technician was murdered in her own home after police fired 20 rounds into her house. Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead by two white men while he was on an afternoon jog.

Some—a small group of protests—used the chaos to loot businesses, which resulted in U.S. President Donald Trump threatening that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” deploying the National Guard to 12 states, including Washington, DC. Since then, what was a series of peaceful protests about police brutality and racial injustice has turned into an ugly civil warfare with reports of further police brutality, attacks on the press and unfair incarceration and arrest of more PoC protestors all by the hands of police and armed forces. Trump has since classified the protests as orchestrated by ANTIFA—a left-wing anti-fascist movement—and considered them a “terrorist organisation”—despite ANTIFA being a social movement instead of, y’know, an organisation.

If you would like to help the Black Lives Matter movement and people protesting against wrongful deaths of black people in America right now, you can donate to bail funds across America (including in Minnesota, Louisville, Denver and Columbus), educate others and promote black voices, and sign the Justice For Floyd petition, which, as of writing, has 9.5 million signatures. It is also strongly advised that you do not share photos or videos on social media that can be triggering or harmful, and refrain from sharing anything that shows any protestors' faces. Doing so runs the risk of identifying and endangering them.

syrupaus View Profile
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This week, you will have seen the news about Minnesota man #GeorgeFloyd, who was killed by police on Monday. Floyd's death-as well as the video of his attack-has again sparked outrage and despair about the ongoing police brutality and systematic racism in the U.S.⁣ ⁣ If you want to educate yourself on the topic, swipe through for information on Floyd's death, as well as resources on how to help.⁣ ⁣ Even if you don't live in the U.S., we all have a responsibility to continue this conversation, encourage growth in ourselves and others, and assist in the slow but necessary dismantling of a racist system. ⁣ ⁣ #BlackLivesMatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd

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