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APA Observes Blackout Tuesday With “A Conversation For Action” To Address Racial Injustice – Update

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UPDATED with latest: APA observed Blackout Tuesday today with “A Conversation for Action,” part of its Elevate speaker series. The Zoom webinar’s audience included showrunners, managers, studio and network executives, producers and talent who heard from voices including attorney/political organizer/journalist Anoa Changa and Isaac Wright Jr., executive producer of the ABC series For Life, based on his own life story of being falsely accused and convicted of crimes that earned him a life sentence.

The activities came a day after APA CEO Jim Gosnell said he agency would observe Blackout Tuesday as “a day of reflection and meaningful action in support of our colleagues, families, friends, clients and global community in the fight for racial justice.”

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Several media companies have joined the music industry in observing Blackout Tuesday to voice their support for the black community and the fight for racial justice in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Read APA’s full memo below.

Dear APA,

On Tuesday, June 2nd, APA will observe “Blackout Tuesday” as a day of reflection and meaningful action in support of our colleagues, families, friends, clients and global community in the fight for racial justice.

While this is just one day, we will continue our commitment in the coming weeks and months that follow to identify and take action on what we can do as a company to fight for real change.

To quote APA’s first client, renowned civil rights activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte, “Each and every one of you has the power, the will and capacity to make a difference in the world in which you live.”

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

#THESHOWMUSTBEPAUSED

Thank you.

Jim

PREVIOUSLY, Sunday 12:23 PM: As protests continue across the country in response to the discrimination and police brutality faced by the black community and the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others, media organizations, networks and agencies have come forward to voice their support for the black community. APA CEO Jim Gosnell is the latest to address the events of the past week.

Gosnell sent a memo to the APA staff which said the following:

Dear Colleagues,

Like all of you, I am devastated to see the civil unrest that has unfolded in major cities across our country. What began as peaceful demonstrations to protest racism and injustice in the wake of the recent tragedies in Minnesota and Georgia quickly devolved into violent confrontations with law enforcement, wreaking havoc in our local communities the likes of which has not been seen in decades.

While these events may have taken a turn for the worse, it does not negate the profound inequality and discrimination affecting our Black community. At times like these, it is imperative that we remain steadfast in our commitment to a better future for everyone, to listen and learn from the events unfolding before us, and to promise our community, our clients, and ourselves that we will utilize our talents, resources and relationships to support, empower and ensure their stories are told.

To quote the English theologian, Thomas Fuller, “It is always darkest before the dawn.” I sincerely believe our future is as bright as we want it to be. It is up to all of us to effect change.

Stay safe, keep positive and be well.

Thank you.

Jim

 

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