Justice for Flint rally raises $145,000 for water crisis
Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay's Oscars counter-programming did some good for the residents of Flint.
The celebrated directors turned what could have been a simple boycott over the #OscarsSoWhite controversy into an opportunity to help a community in crisis by holding the Justice for Flint benefit Sunday evening as Hollywood celebrated the Academy Awards.
Coogler insisted to BuzzFeed, however, that the date was chosen because it was the last weekend of Black History Month, not because of the Oscars.
Regardless of the intention, the event -- which featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monae and Flint resident Jon Conner -- was a resounding success, according to DuVernay.
"Folks are standing up for Flint! Since last night's #JusticeForFlint show, 3,635 activists have raised their voices with $145,oo0 toward recovery," she tweeted.
Folks are standing up for Flint! Since last night's #JusticeForFlint show, 3635 activists have raised their voices w/ $145k toward recovery!
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) February 29, 2016