Nickelodeon went off the air on Monday evening to make room for a powerful PSA about the network’s support of “justice, equality, and human rights.” Now, people are responding to the 8 minute and 46-second break from children’s content that made way for a soundtrack of labored breath as the words “I can’t breathe” flashed on the screen.Nickelodeon✔@Nickelodeon
The act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement was announced on Nickelodeon’s social media channels before going into effect on Monday evening. The statement also included a “Declaration of kids’ rights” made up of a list of reminders to young people about their right to protection, peace, equality and education. The nearly 9 minutes that followed were the most powerful.uhh.itsAshley@ItsashleyUhh
I can’t breathe #Nickelodeon #blm
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The above clip captured by a Twitter user shows just a few seconds of what was on television screens across the country for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the amount of time that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned his knee to George Floyd‘s neck, while the black man repeatedly said: “I can’t breathe.” On Monday, his death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County medical examiner.ViacomCBS✔@ViacomCBS
At 5 p.m. today, many of our #ViacomCBS brands went dark for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to commemorate victims of police brutality, like #GeorgeFloyd. We stand united against racism, discrimination, and senseless violence. #BlackLivesMatter995Twitter Ads info and privacy311 people are talking about this
According to a tweet by ViacomCBS, the media company that owns Nickelodeon, a number of brands were included in the commemoration of victims of police brutality, like Floyd. The decision to air this on Nickelodeon, however, seemed the most striking to viewers.
This article was originally posted on yahoo.com/entertainment/.