Activists in the black community are calling for a boycott of Black Friday purchases to protest the non-indictment of Darren Wilson, and police brutality in general. Using hashtags like #HandsUpDontSpend, #NotOneDime and #BrownFriday, news of the boycott has been spreading through Twitter over the past few days.
Additionally, there are also plans to march through shopping malls in silence and prayer, and calls for those who do shop to only do so at black-owned businesses.
These Black Friday protests have been encouraged by some in the Hip Hop community. "Black Friday 2014 Shut it Down for Michael Brown . This cop should move out of the country, heard there's places on earth for war criminals," Public Enemy frontman Chuck D wrote on Twitter.
Like Chuck D, Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons is known for his involvement in social issues. He also expressed solidarity with the Black Friday protesters with this Twitter post.
Together we can stand up + spark change. Join @UnitedBlackout for #BlackoutBlackFriday: http://t.co/iPvbdU9rSJ RT! pic.twitter.com/zLJigp9vH0 — Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) November 25, 2014
What do you think? Does this make you want to stay away from Best Buy today? Or do you like to separate your politics from your Play Station 4 deals?