*ViacomCBS networks including BET, VH1, MTV and Comedy Central went dark for nearly nine seconds Monday night (June 1) with the only things onscreen being the words “I Can’t Breathe,” info on how to join @colorofchange and a timer that counted down from 8:46 – the amount of time white police officer Derick Chauvin had his knee pressed into the neck of black Minnesota resident George Floyd, whose death in police custody has set off a week of demonstrations across the country.
ViacomCBS’ entertainment and youth networks — MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Networks, VH1, TV Land, CMT, Logo and partner brands CBS Sports, BET and Nickelodeon — ran the spot at 5 p.m. ET. Chris McCarthy, president of the Entertainment & Youth Group, told employees in an email:
“One week ago, for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the breath of one of our fellow humans was taken from him. His name was George Floyd,” he wrote. “Today at 5pm ET, the E&Y brands and platforms around the world will go dark for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to show our support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the fight against police brutality and racial inequality. We know there is a lot of work ahead of us, and I am committed to action beyond these words with all of you. We must continue to work together, to look within, and to support one other and our fellow humans – all with compassion for each other.”
Watch below:
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