T.I. calls for #BlackOutDay2020 boycott in response to police killings
The Atlanta rapper is launching a nationwide store boycott on July 7.
T.I. is launching a nationwide boycott next month in response to the recent police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. On Instagram, Tip called for those against “murders, lynchings, & oppression of people of color” to avoid spending money all together in a nationwide protest on July 7.
“BLACKOUT DAY JULY 7, 2020. This is a call to action!!” he posted on Thursday (May 28). “We need one day of solidarity in America when not one black person in America spends a dollar. This includes Africans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanics…ALL people of color.”
“Together we have 3.9 trillion dollars in economic spending power,” he continued. “That’s $10,684,931,506.80 it’s going to cost per day next time a person of color gets shot!!! We call it #BLACKOUTDAY2020 July 7th, 2020 please spread the message, and let’s show REAL action that they fear!!!!”
“Nobody spend SH*T on this day!” he added in the post’s caption. Likewise, Juicy J voiced his support for the idea by sharing Tip’s post on Twitter.
T.I. has also been vocal about the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, who was followed and fatally shot by Gregory and Travis McMichael back in February. On Thursday (May 28), the families of Floyd, Taylor and Arbery released a joint statement about the tragic loss of their loved ones.
“We’re devastated about the senseless violence that has broken the hearts of our families,” they wrote in the statement. “While we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support, it’s important that now – more than ever – we use our voices to enact change, demand accountability within our justice system and keep the legacies of Breonna, Ahmaud and George alive. This is a national crisis and our government needs to take immediate and widespread action to protect our black and brown communities.”
Arbery’s killers were arrested and charged with aggravated assault and murder earlier this month. The four police officers involved in Floyd’s death have still not been arrested.
See T.I.’s full post below.