Ava DuVernay gave a passionate speech at a Black Lives Matter event at Staples Center on Monday, where she urged voters to participate in the 2020 election.
As the Oscar-nominated filmmaker hosted the rally, she emphasized that regardless of the results of the presidential race, the movement against police brutality and racially motivated violence on Black people needed to continue.
‘Thank you for holding space for this resistance, for this power, for this voice, for demonstrating who we are, that we can proclaim what we want, that we can exercise rights that are given to us and rights that we take that are not given to us, that we can declare what we want,’ she said in a video captured by BLM Los Angeles.
Speaking up: Ava DuVernay gave a passionate speech at a Black Lives Matter event at Staples Center on Monday, where she urged voters to participate in the 2020 election
She continued: ‘This moment is not an end all be all. This vote, this election is not even the half of what is ahead of us and what needs to happen tomorrow and the next day and the next day. But it is a tool, it is a weapon in our arsenal and we are going to fight. We are in a war.’
Additionally, she told the crowd that they need to ‘keep loving each other’ and fight against anti-black racism.
During the event, she, alongside, BLM LA co-founder Melina Abdullah, Victoria Mahoney and Kendrick Sampson wore CDC-recommended face masks amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Passionate: As the Oscar-nominated filmmaker hosted the rally, she emphasized that regardless of the results of the presidential race, the movement against racially motivated violence on Black people will continue
‘Thank you for holding space for this resistance, for this power, for this voice, for demonstrating who we are, that we can proclaim what we want, that we can exercise rights that are given to us and rights that we take that are not given to us,’ she said at the event
Standing strong: She continued: ‘This moment is not an end all be all. This vote, this election is not even the half of what is ahead of us and what needs to happen tomorrow and the next day and the next day’
DuVernay wore an a black puffer coat, matching t-shirt and a pair of light-wash jeans for the occasion.
Meanwhile, many attendees wore graphic t-shirts with powerful messages that included phrases like: ‘Defund the police.’
Actress Sherry Cola, best known for starring on Freeform’s series Good Trouble, wore an ‘I Voted’ sticker on her yellow beanie with her costar Zuri Adele.
Listening: Kendrick Sampson poses for portrait at the Black Lives Matter rally in Los Angeles
Powerful trio: DuVernay, BLM LA co-founder Melina Abdullah, and Victoria Mahoney pose for a snap at the event
Far from over: Additionally, DuVernay told the crowd that they need to ‘keep loving each other’ and fight against anti-black racism
Good Trouble: Actress Sherry Cola, best known for starring on Freeform’s series Good Trouble, wore her ‘I Voted’ sticker on her yellow beanie with her costar Zuri Adele
Actress Seri DeYoung, who has appeared on S.W.A.T and Breaking Bad, wore a black ‘The future is female’ sweatshirt with a gold ‘Vote’ necklace.
She completed the look with a floral facial covering and a light blue Dodger baseball cap.
The recent Black Lives Matter election event was hosted at Staples Center, which served as a polling place for LA voters to cast ballots from October 30 to November 3.
Powerful message: Many attendees wore shirts with messages that included phrases like: ‘Defund the police’ and ‘The future is female’ (Rahje Branch seen in LA)
Actress Seri DeYoung, who has appeared on Freeform’s Good Trouble and S.W.A.T, wore a black sweatshirt with a gold ‘Vote’ necklace
Polling place: The recent Black Lives Matter election event was hosted at Staples Center, which served as a polling place for LA voters to cast ballots from October 30 to November 3