Big names in the video game community came out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests following the death of George Floyd.
With mass protests erupting all over the United States and various parts of the world over the recent unjustly death of George Floyd, several athletes, celebrities, and companies have been championing the rallies and Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
Various video game companies, publications, and esteemed members of the gaming community have also joined the cause by publicly showing support and even raising funds to help those affected by the protests.
Former NBA player Stephen Jackson delivers a powerful message to honor his longtime friend George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/OxvwtNSzlu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 29, 2020
Games Done Quick sends love to Lake Street and BLM
Video game charity marathon organizers Games Done Quick—known for holding two major charity runs in the US every year—recently announced on Twitter that they would be pledging US$2,500 [AU$3648] to nonprofit Lake Street Council’s We Love Lake Street project.
The project directly assists in the rebuilding and recovery of small businesses in Lake Street Minnesota, which are mostly owned by people of color and immigrants.
Moreover, Games Done Quick announced that they would be donating all of their Twitch revenue for the month of June to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) as a show of support to the Black Lives Matter movement.
#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/5jfbvvlW9Y
— Games Done Quick 🔜 #SGDQ2024 (@GamesDoneQuick) June 1, 2020
Gaming publications are joining the fray
Popular video game website GameSpot made their voice heard by tweeting that they stand in “100% solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement,” and pledge to continue raising funds for BLM through their “Play For All” event.
PC Gamer, another beloved gaming publication, chimed in by posting an article on their platform about all the resources they’ve pooled together to help keep their readers informed, including a list of charities and the different ways people can support.
The website further mentioned that they’d have “more to share in the days and weeks ahead.”
GameSpot stands in 100% solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and all such efforts to end systemic racism and police brutality in the US and abroad.
We will continue to raise money to support Black Lives Matter @colorofchange all throughout our Play For All event. pic.twitter.com/ZjAgEJbhCE
— GameSpot (@GameSpot) June 1, 2020
Industry giants also show solidarity
Various gaming industry juggernauts including Microsoft, Naughty Dog, Sony, and many more, publicly expressed their alignment with Black Lives Matter, using their popularity to draw awareness to the cause.
Employees of the Santa Monica-based video game developer Naughty Dog started donating to different organizations, with Sony matching each of those donations with their own.
Sony recently postponed their PlayStation 5 event scheduled for June 4, stating that they “want to stand back and allow more important voices to be heard.”
Thank you, PlayStation, for matching donations. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/Tl0m2Q0uXK pic.twitter.com/RHbUAHjfFy
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) June 1, 2020
The death that sparked protests all over the world
George Floyd was an African-American man who passed away on May 25, in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a result of Caucasian police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
Police reports claim that Floyd resisted arrest after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at the local market, though a few media organizations countered by stating that nearby security cameras showed otherwise.
George Floyd's family says his memorial and celebration of life services will be held in Houston on Monday and Tuesday of next week https://t.co/sZNUSf2HG0 pic.twitter.com/nARBB5Fk45
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 2, 2020
Two different autopsies were performed, both ruling his death as a homicide. Hennepin County Medical Examiner came to the conclusion that the cause of death was cardiac arrest which occurred while Floyd was being restrained with “neck compression.”
Floyd’s family commissioned their own autopsy which showed signs that he died of mechanical asphyxia as a direct cause of the way he was restricted.
George Floyd spent the last five years of his life as a security guard at a restaurant and was the father of two young daughters.
Image courtesy of Karen Eliot/Flicker