The movement started on social media as many people made a call of action for everyone to hold out on spending money in support of ending racial and economic injustice amid rampant police brutality and race-based murders in the U.S.
American citizens, celebrities and corporations joined #BlackOutDay2020 with the Blackout Coalition calling the day a success.
“Today elected officials, corporations and organizations are joining the movement to address systemic racism at all levels from the board room to senior management, staffing, policies and brand name,” stated a press release from OneUnited Bank, the largest black-owned bank in the United States. “Change is in the air; Black America will no longer tolerate injustice and inequality.”
Over two million social media users registered for #BlackOutDay2020. Outside of the Internet, millions of people withheld spending to honor the movement, with reports coming from major metropolitan areas, such as Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Utah. Those who had to spend money would instead patronize black-owned businesses.
OneUnited Bank has supported movements that empower the black consumer to use economic spending to reinvest in the black community.
“As the largest Black owned bank in America, we are compelled to play a leadership role to galvanize our community and allies in support of #BlackOutDay2020, and to fight for social and economic justice,” said OneUnited Bank Chairman and CEO Kevin Cohee. “We need to use our power – our spending power, our vote and our voice – to demand criminal justice reform and to close the racial wealth gap.”
