By Bronte Price, PoliticKING
After Beyonce’s Super Bowl halftime show, a group of people have scheduled an event to protest outside the NFL headquarters in New York on February 16th. Beyonce’s halftime performance received widespread praise and criticism after, alongside a team of dancers, Beyonce performed her new single, Formation, which references the Black Panthers and Black Lives Matter.
The protest event page says, “Are you offended as an American that Beyoncé pulled her race-baiting stunt at the Superbowl? Do you agree that it was a slap in the face to law enforcement? Do you agree that the Black Panthers was/is a hate group which should not be glorified? Come and let's stand together. Let's tell the NFL we don't want hate speech & racism at the Superbowl ever again!” The group is using the hashtags, #BoycottBeyonce, #BlueLivesMatter, and #AllLivesMatter.
Protesters plan “Anti-Beyoncé rally” outside of NFL Headquarters: https://t.co/ivdlmlTt8Apic.twitter.com/SZmgjMAlhA
— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) February 11, 2016
Former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani also criticised Beyonce’s performance. “I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive,” he told Fox News on Monday. “And what we should be doing in the African American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers.”
Beyoncé boycotters are protesting a song that only exists in their persecuted imaginations https://t.co/e3tcKGYK8hpic.twitter.com/RfZ0dObMrV
— Salon.com (@Salon) February 11, 2016
A group who supports Beyonce is planning to protest the protest on February 16th. The event is named “GET IN FORMATION: Anti-Anti-Beyoncé Protest Rally.” The event page states that they are protesting a “racist, ahistorical attack on the Black Panther Party and Beyonce.” The page adds that it is an excuse to celebrate “a very awesome song,” and a “#BlackGirlMagic moment.”
Many celebrities have endorsed the Black Lives Matter movement including John Legend, Prince, and Kanye West. “We have asked our biggest stars to get political and Bey went there.” The group wrote on the event page. “Don't let anyone make her powerful statement about the value of Black life be overshadowed by those who don't believe that our lives matter.”
Hear what Tracee Ellis Ross has to say about the #BlackLivesMatter movement and much more on this episode of Larry King Now:
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC, its affiliates, or its employees.
