US Advertising Agency Converts Website Into #BlackLivesMatter Message

US Advertising Agency Converts Website Into #BlackLivesMatter Message

Independent American ad agency Wieden+Kennedy has removed its usual agency website information and instead issued a powerful statement around the Black Lives Matter movement.

The message is a response to the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, who were killed by police one day after the other. Sterling was shot in the chest and back outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La. on Tuesday. Castile was shot Wednesday in his car in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. His girlfriend live streamed his death on Facebook, the officer fatally shot Castile after he reached for his wallet during a traffic stop.

The statement has been present since last Thursday, it was posted hours before five officers were killed and 12 officers injured during a protest in Dallas, it reads:

Why your black co-worker seems especially bitter today…
Why your black co-worker seems especially sad today…
Why your black co-worker seems especially quiet today…

We are processing.

We are asking ourselves what to do.

We are hurt because it feels like watching our own selves get gunned down.

We are telling ourselves, “do not let this make you live in fear. do not let this make you hate.”

But we’re scared for our lives, our family’s lives, our friend’s lives.

We’re mad that the protests aren’t working. Why the video recordings aren’t working.

We’re conflicted, in a place between crippling empathy contempt at a world that seems not to care enough.

We are disgusted at police but telling ourselves, “you can’t hate all police.”

We are wondering the point of a moment of silence.

We are wondering if we ourselves will make it back home today.

We are wondering what to do, what to do, what to do.

Just an FYI, not for sympathy. Just acknowledging this because it should be acknowledged.

#blacklivesmatter

Screenshot of W&K website:

Wieden & Kennedy

 




Please login with linkedin to comment

Latest News

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
  • Media

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm

Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
  • Advertising

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA  Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]