Michael B. Jordan Just Fired the Police from Any Event He Attends
Michael B. Jordan joined protests in Hollywood on June 6. The Creed and Black Panther star gave a five minute speech outside the offices of Hollywood agencies in Century City, California who organized the march. In addition to supporting the ongoing protests against the death of George Floyd and police violence, Jordan had some proactive ideas for how Hollywood could act in solidarity with social justice movements like Black Lives Matter.
The Instagram account blacklove captured Jordan’s entire speech. Here is what he said about using his Hollywood clout for change, and you can watch the whole video below.
Michael B. Jordan says Hollywood can take a stand against police
One of the trends emerging from the protests is discussion about defunding the police. Some communities rely on other forms of security instead of a police department. Whatever one’s views on that big picture issue, Jordan says Hollywood does not need to pay police departments for security on sets and at events.
“I’ve dedicated my production company to an inclusion rider, but it has to go beyond that,” Jordan said. “So to the brands that support me, to all the productions, to the studios, to all the businesses and partnerships that I have, if you have any financial ties to police, we have to relook at our business. We have to stop hiring police. We have to cut off their support.”
Michael B. Jordan will not attend events with police hired as security
Hollywood has other options for security. Jordan is opting for private security firms to guard his projects, his events and himself.
“That’s why I’m committing to hiring private security at all my events, private security only,” Jordan said. “Anybody deals with me, if you have racist beliefs, if you have a racist bone in your body, if you’re not with me, if you don’t stand with me and people who look like me then you don’t need to be with me.”
Hollywood needs to fund more black creatives
When Frances McDormand won the Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri she said the words “inclusion rider.” Jordan said he has insisted on an inclusion rider for all of his projects, but wants the studios and agencies to commit to more black creatives than just those working on his projects.
So invest, right? I want us to invest in black staff. I’m proud to have an inclusion rider and all that good stuff. I use my power to demand diversity, but it’s time the studios and all the agencies, all these buildings that we’re standing in front of, I want you to do the same. You committed to a 50/50 gender parity in 2020, where’s the challenge to commit to black hiring? Black content led by black executives, black consultants. Are you policing our storytelling as well? Let us bring our darkness to the light.
Michael B. Jordan, speech on 6/6/2020
Jordan pointed out that black companies already deal with discrimination. They could use the support from Hollywood to level the playing field a tad.
“Black culture, the sneakers, sports, comedic culture you guys love so much, we’ve dealt with discrimination at every turn,” Jordan said. “Can you help fund black brands, companies, cultural leaders, black organizations? A great agent doesn’t have to be a great organizer but a great agent could advocate for relationships with organizers. Will you support a nonprofit that’s working to solve problems that our industry created?”
Lastly, Jordan encouraged people to vote.
“We can’t vote today but what we are doing today will make our voices heard and values heard,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to keep doing it. We’ve got to keep agitating things. We can’t let this moment just pass us by. We have to continue to put our foot on their necks. Just know I’m here with you guys.”
