Some celebrities simply tweet about what moves them, while others, like “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams, get right on the front lines.
Jesse, along with members of the Question Bridge: Black Males video project team, joined protesters from across the country who traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, this weekend for #FergusonOctober, which seeks justice for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown and victims of police brutality like him.
“We’ll be archiving the thoughts and concerns of the people and recording Black males asking and answering the questions that matter to them,” Jesse said in a Tumblr post on October 8. You can follow Jesse as he documents his time in St. Louis on his Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram accounts.
The shooting of Brown, an unarmed young black man, in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked demonstrations, protests, vigils and rallies across the country in August and September calling attention to acts of police brutality. This weekend’s protests also came on the heels of another controversial shooting death of an 18-year-old black man, Vonderrit Myers, Jr. of St. Louis.
Those who follow Jesse on social media (his Tumblr is a MUST!) should not be surprised by his trip down south. The actor is known for his outspoken, timely and much-needed responses to everything from “Django Unchained” to racial discrimination.
Demonstrators and the media tracked Williams’ appearances and activities throughout the day and in many cases, Jesse responded in kind.
And it seems as though fans have also taken notice, tweeting their support as well as letting Jesse (and the world) know just how much his activism can inspire young people across the globe.
Jesse is not the only celebrity making a trip for #FergusonOctober. Talib Kweli, dead prez and Jasiri X are among the musicians performing at a free, 18+ Hip Hop 4 Justice concert created by organizers of #FergusonOctober. Kweli previously visited Ferguson after the initial waves of protest. The concert runs today (October 12) from 1 to 6 p.m. CST.
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