Oscars 2016 Protest: When And Where Al Sharpton’s US Demonstrations Over Lack Of Diversity Will Take Place

al sharpton academy awards — The Rev. Al Sharpton is silhouetted against the podium Tuesday at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. Reuters/Mike Segar

U.S. civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton has revealed details of a planned nationwide TV tune-out and demonstrations, in response to the lack of racial diversity among acting nominees for the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony. In more than a half dozen cities, including Cleveland, Detroit, New York and Miami, Sharpton’s National Action Network plans protests at ABC affiliate TV stations that will air the Oscars broadcast Feb. 28.

“Let’s send a strong message that diversity in the film industry must be more than a hollow promise,” NAN said on its Instagram account. The release of details for the planned demonstrations follows widespread criticism of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which for the second year in a row announced an all-white slate of nominees in the four acting categories.

Last month, a group of leading civil rights organizations, including NAN, the National Urban League and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, requested a meeting with the academy and film industry leaders. A representative of NAN’s western regional operation said Wednedsay that the academy had not responded to its request.

Join NAN as we tune-out the oscars #oscartuneout. For more information please call 1-877-626-4651 _ or www.nationalactionnetwork.net
A photo posted by National Action Network (NAN) (@nationalactionnetwork) on Feb 15, 2016 at 2:52pm PST

Soon after the controversy erupted over the 2016 nominations, the academy announced plans to diversify its mostly white, male and over-50 membership roster, which votes each year on the nominees. But civil rights leaders have noted how the academy promised similar efforts after last year’s controversy. “Hollywood has a fraudulent image of progressive and liberal politics and policies,” Sharpton has said. “We must take direct action to correct this. Talk is cheap.”

Sharpton is scheduled to headline a Feb. 28 rally in front of Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California. That event is set for 2 p.m. local time, a few hours ahead of the ceremony broadcast. Here are the locations of other planned rallies:

Cleveland

WEWS-TV

3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Time: 5 p.m. EST

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Detroit

WXYZ-TV

20777 W. Ten Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan

Time: 5 p.m. EST

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Miami

WPLG