Campaign Provides Viewers with a Platform to Share Their Testimonials
and Reactions on the Continued Tragic Deaths of African American People
at the Hands of Law Enforcement & Gun Violence
Share Your Video Now on BET.com/DontKill
to Have Your Voice Be Heard and Amplified
In Addition to Our Ongoing Efforts MTV News and BET News to Host Live
Town Hall "What Now? An MTV News and BET News Town Hall" Tonight at 10
PM ET/PT across All Screens to Discuss America in Crisis
Keep the conversation going on social media by using the hash tag
#DeEscalateDontKill
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
"There has been no war that we have not fought and died on the front
lines of. There is no job we haven't done, there is no tax they haven't
levied against us and we've paid all of them. But freedom is somehow
always conditional here. "You're free!" they keeping telling us. "But
she would be alive if she hadn't acted so…free." Now, freedom is always
coming in the hereafter, but, you know what, though? The hereafter is a
hustle. We want it now." Jesse Williams. BET Awards 2016.
As news and images of the senseless deaths of Philando Castile, Alton
Sterling, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Eric
Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Grey and countless others killed by law
enforcement continues to increase, BET Networks is determined to
encourage meaningful dialogue that galvanizes change and provides
viewers with a platform to have their voices be heard and amplified.
While there is no easy answer on how to address or solve the systemic
issues of race and justice across our nation, BET Networks is committed
to bringing these conversations and testimonials of social change to
light through activations like #DeEscalateDontKill on all of its
linear, social media and digital platforms. We SEE you. We FEEL you.
We HEAR You. We GOT you.
"Too many days this week we woke up to heart-breaking news about the
tragic shooting of yet another black man at the hands of law enforcement
in America. From Mike Brown and Freddie Gray to Alton Sterling and
Philando Castile, no family should have to endure the tragedy of their
loved ones becoming a hashtag. Yet far too often, black men in America
are at risk of becoming a statistic at the hands of the very officers
that have been hired to protect and serve them. Now, with the senseless
killing of police officers in Dallas yesterday, things have reached a
boiling point and it's time for everyone to channel their emotions
towards a solution, not more violence."said Debra L. Lee, Chairman
and CEO, BET Networks "In response to these senseless
killings, we have launched the #DeEscalateDontKill campaign to engage in
the national conversation about issues of race, justice and policing in
America. We are also using this time to amplify the messaging around our
newly launched voter engagement campaign, Voice Your VoteBET. While our
hearts are broken, we must remain focused on holding our elected
officials accountable by showing up at the polls on Election Day and
voicing our outrage through our votes. In addition, we must all
recognize the importance of getting involved in the political process at
the local level, where community policing is working, and as a
community, figure out how we can partner with law enforcement to save
lives."
In addition to our ongoing efforts MTV News and BET News to host LIVE
town hall "What Now? An MTV News and BET Town Hall" tonight at 10 PM
ET/PT across all screens to discuss America in crisis. Marc
Lamont Hill, BET News, Charlamange Tha God, MTV2 host of "Uncommon Sense
with Charlamagne", Jamil Smith, MTV News, and Franchesca Ramsey, of
MTV's "Decoded" and Comedy Central's "The Nightly Show with Larry
Wilmore" will go live from MTV's Times Square studio with an open forum
of artists, activists and audience members discussing the issues
underlying this latest round in a cycle of violence and tragedy in
America. The Town 10:00pm ET / PT on MTV, BET, VH1, MTV2, Centric and
VH1 Classic and at 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT on Logo, MTV Live and MTV Hits.
Watch some of the recent #DeEscalateDontKill uploads at BET.com/DontKill.
Log on to BET.com to stay informed and learn more on what you can do in
your community to affect change. Join the conversation on social media
by logging on to BET's multiple social media platforms by using hashtag: #DeEscalateDontKill;
and following us @BETNews & @BET.
Watch a snap shot of BET social media created content from the various
marches and rallies below:
https://www.facebook.com/BET/videos/10153592631760404/
https://www.facebook.com/BET/videos/10153593978290404/
https://www.facebook.com/BET/videos/10153594614055404/
https://www.facebook.com/BET/videos/10153594765745404/
About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B ), is the
nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and
public affairs television programming for the African-American audience.
The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can
be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom
and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer
brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading
Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news;
CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American
Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home
Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile,
which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices;
and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160708005857/en/
BET Networks
Luis Defrank, 212-205-3156
luis.defrank@bet.net
Source: BET Networks
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