*(Via LA Weekly) – A (Los Angeles based) African-American leader says an Oscars boycott that has been gaining steam after the nominations for Hollywood’s highest honors snubbed actors of color is still on despite a move by the Academy Awards to dramatically diversify its membership.
“At this point the boycott is not off the table,” said Najee Ali of the National Action Network’s Los Angeles chapter.
He said that the national organization’s founder, Rev. Al Sharpton, would make the final call, possibly today. Sharpton was scheduled to hold a teleconference with reporters regarding the group’s “TV Tune Out” of the Oscars tomorrow at 4 p.m.
The local chapter initiated the boycott, and it has gained momentum as luminaries such as Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith said they would not attend the ceremonies Feb. 28. The boycott has also been buoyed by the second-year social-media campaign, #OscarsSoWhite.
The Beverly Hills-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that its board of governors voted unanimously to phase out automatic lifetime membership.
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