November 13, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Rev. Al Sharpton Joins #OscarsSoWhite Protest in Hollywood Today

Rev. Al Sharpton © hugs a mourner after a funeral of Harlem restaurateur Sylvia Woods at Grace Baptist Church on July 25, 2012 in Mount Vernon, New York.  (Thinkstock: Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Rev. Al Sharpton © hugs a mourner after a funeral of Harlem restaurateur Sylvia Woods at Grace Baptist Church on July 25, 2012 in Mount Vernon, New York. (Thinkstock: Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The Rev. Al Sharpton plans to be in Hollywood today, taking part in a protest of the all-white slate of Oscar acting nominees and calling for more diversity in the entertainment industry.

Sharpton’s National Action Network will stage protests in cities across the country, including Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland, New York and Washington, D.C.

In Los Angeles, Sharpton and activists from a variety of civil rights organizations plan to gather at 2 p.m. outside Hollywood High School on Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.

The group plans to “take a unified stand for diversity, inclusion and justice in Hollywood,” and encourage people to “tune out the Oscars.”

“Let’s send a strong message that diversity in the film industry must be more than a hollow promise,” according to an announcement posted by the organization.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences came under fire this year when all of the acting nominees turned out to be white. It’s the second year in a row there has been an all-white slate of nominees.

The Academy also snubbed the critically acclaimed film “Straight Outta Compton,” which only received nods for its screenwriters, who are white.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith — whose husband Will Smith was overlooked for an Oscar for his work in “Concussion” — took to social media to announce her plans to boycott the Academy Awards. Director Spike Lee also lashed out at the Oscars for the all-white nominations.

In late January, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced a series of changes to its voting and membership procedures with the aim of doubling its female and “diverse” membership by 2020.

The Academy’s Board of Governors voted to begin “an ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity.” It also agreed to establish three new board seats, with those representatives being nominated by the Academy president and approved by the board.

The Academy also plans to add members who do not serve on the Board of Governors to its executive and board committees, “where key decisions about membership and governance are made.”

The Academy also announced changes to its voting procedures, with each new member’s voting status lasting 10 years, and renewed if the member has been active in motion pictures during that time. Members will receive lifetime voting rights after three 10-year terms, or if they have won or been nominated for an Oscar.

The new rules will be applied retroactively to current Academy members. Members who do not qualify for active status will be transitioned to “emeritus status,” under which they do not pay dues and have no voting privileges.

Despite those steps, many industry observers have noted that the diversity problem is not solely with the Academy, but with the entertainment industry at large, with studio decision-makers being primarily white men.

Related Posts

Family Searches for Missing Actress Chanel Maya Banks; Asks For Public’s Help in West LA

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

Relatives Search for Chanel Maya Banks, Last Heard From on October 30 The family of an actress based on the...

Court Halts Order for Expedited Veteran Housing in West LA, Citing VA’s Budget Constraints

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Criticizes the VA on Veterans Day The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily paused an...

Armed Robbery in Culver City: Suspects Flee with $12,000 Rolex in Early Morning Incident

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Two Suspects Targeted Man in Parking Lot, Brandishing Firearms, Demanding Valuables Culver City police are investigating an early morning armed...

Metro’s New Bus Lane Camera Enforcement Aims to Speed Up Commutes for LA Riders

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Pilot Program Begins With 60-Day Warning Period to Clear Bus Lanes The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), in...

Legendary Actor Tony Todd, Known for Iconic Horror Roles, Dies at the Age of 69

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Star of Candyman and Final Destination Remembered by Fans and Peers Iconic actor and Marina del Rey resident Tony Todd...

LAUSD Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault on a Minor, Police Believe There May Be Other Victims

November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on November 8 that a middle school teacher, Colleen Jo Matarico, is...

Suspect Arrested, Another at Large After Culver City Vehicle Burglary

November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024

Police Ask Public for Assistance to Aid the Investigation Early morning on November 7, Culver City Police responded to reports...

Beverly Hills High Limits Student Gatherings After Pro-Trump Rally Disrupts Campus

November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024

Principal Cites Safety Concerns Following Post-Election Demonstration Beverly Hills High School has put limits on student gatherings after a pro-Trump...

LAX Runway Closures in November May Lead to Increased Aircraft Noise for Nearby Residents

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Temporary Runway Shutdowns for Maintenance and Upgrades May Alter Flight Paths Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has announced temporary runway...

Racist Text Messages Target Students in Santa Monica, West LA, Raising Alarm Among Schools, Families

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Outrage Spreads as Disturbing, Racially Charged Messages Reach Students and Others By Dolores Quintana Schools on the Westside of Los...

8 Things to Do in Big Bear Lake: A Local’s Guide to Adventure and Relaxation

November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024

Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is a true gem for nature lovers, families, and adventurers alike....

Governor Newsom Convenes Special Session to Protect California Rights Against Future Federal Policies

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Special Session Called To Defend Civil Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Climate Initiatives Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a special session of...

Megacity Review: Genaro Trejo’s Global Platform for Urban Arts and Literature Launches in Los Angeles’ Westside

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Santa Monica, CA – A new voice has arrived on the Los Angeles literary scene with the launch of Megacity...

Chinese Chemical Company and Executives Indicted for Allegedly Fueling Fentanyl Crisis in Los Angeles

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

U.S. DOJ Charges Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech and Executives With 13 Counts  A federal grand jury has indicted Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech...

Free Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Coming to Culver City on Nov. 12

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Get Free Vaccine Shots for All Ages—No Appointment Needed Culver City, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of...