Hollywood’s Heavy Hitters to Host Fundraising Event for Flint

ome Hollywood heavyweights will spend their Oscar night helping the People of Flint, according to a post on BuzzFeed today.

Comedian Hannibal Burress will host #JUSTICEFORFLINT, a free event, open to the public, taking place at Whiting Auditorium in Flint on February 28. Singers Janelle Monae and Musiq Soulchild, filmmakers Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) and Ava DuVernay (Selma), actor Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) and others will join Burress onstage for the event.

The event will raise funds for Flint residents affected by the water crisis, which gained national attention earlier this year. Donations will be accepted at the event and also by text.

The #JUSTICEFORFLINT event is presented by Blackout for Human Rights a collective of filmmakers, artists, lawmakers, and more founded by Coogler. The group’s aim is to use their resources to address human rights violations across the country.

Despite #JUSTICEFORFLINT being held on the same night as the Academy Awards, the two events are said to not be connected.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has been under fire due to the lack of diversity in their Oscar nominations, with many critics pointing to snubs of Coogler’s Creed, Idris Elba’s performance in Beasts of No Nation, Will Smith in Concussion and any recognition for Straight Outta Compton. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite amplified that outrage, and some celebrities have talked of boycotting this year’s show.

To RSVP for the event, check out their Eventbrite page. Onlookers unable to make it out to Flint can live-stream the event on Revolt.tv.