Twitter has put up billboards in cities across the country featuring tweets from Black Lives Matter activists, including one billboard in downtown Minneapolis.
“Protesters aren’t trying to start a race war – we’re trying to end one,” states the Minneapolis billboard.
The tweet featured on the billboard was written by Frederick Joseph, an author and former national surrogate for the presidential campaigns of Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
“A profound honor to see this ad go up on Juneteenth, in Minneapolis no less. Where this current moment started,” Joseph said in response.
A profound honor to see this ad go up on Juneteenth, in Minneapolis no less. Where this current moment started. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/sTKeALzFmo
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) June 20, 2020
God-is Rivera, Twitter’s global director of culture and community, said she was “so proud to see Twitter continue to step into its purpose today by amplifying and centering the voices of a community that has historically been pushed to the margins of public conversation.”
“Part of my joy is uplifting voices that need to be heard, when they need to be heard. Proud to do that across the country today with billboards in eight cities that have become the epicenters of protest in recent weeks,” said Rivera.
7/ Each billboard highlights Tweets from strong Black voices that channel the collective Black experience as the fight for equality lives on. pic.twitter.com/Xx3ZlbxtQT
— God-is Rivera (@GodisRivera) June 19, 2020
“Each billboard highlights tweets from strong Black voices that channel the collective Black experience as the fight for equality lives on,” she added.
Other cities with Twitter’s new billboards include Atlanta, Louisville, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, and Oakland.
“Black Trans Lives Matter. That’s all. That’s the tweet,” states the Chicago billboard.
📍 Chicago
🗣️ @JoshuaKissi pic.twitter.com/ZeD3XvJUbX— Twitter (@Twitter) June 19, 2020
Earlier this month, Twitter disabled a video tribute to George Floyd created by President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign because of an unspecified copyright complaint.
“Per our copyright policy, we respond to valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorized representatives,” Twitter said at the time, but did not elaborate on who made the complaint.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
