Isaiah Washington Calls For African Americans To Boycott Work, Businesses

Actor Isaiah Washington called upon fellow African Americans to “stay at home” Monday, boycotting work, school and shopping.

Isaiah Washington Calls For Boycott

Washington, who is best known for playing Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy, took to Facebook last week to share his idea for a boycott. In the aftermath of the tragic shooting death of African-American Terence Crutcher at the hands of police, Washington was inspired to make his call-to-action.

“Imagine if every single African American in the United States that was really fed up with being angry, sad and disgusted, would pick ONE DAY to simply ‘stay at home’ from every single job, work site, sports arena and government office in the United States of America,” Washington wrote. “I’m very sure that within 72 hours from Wall Street to the NFL…Black Lives Would Matter. September 26, 2016 is THE DAY. #ItsTime #CanWeDoIt? #ACallToAction #StayAtHomeSeptember262016 #RIPTerenceCrutcher #HandsUpDontShoot #Missing24.”

In a follow-up post, Washington revealed that he had spoken with activist Madelon “Blue” McCullough about the boycott.

“After a lengthy and substantive discussion with Madelon “Blue” McCullough from #Missing24 , we have united our efforts regarding boycotting the very system that was built on the backs of black people here in America,” Washington wrote. “Every African born in America is fed up, hurt, confused, saddened and angry about the continued extrajudicial killings by public servants in our streets, so collectively we bring forth a solution.”

Washington added, “On Monday, September 26, 2016, we are shutting down. No work. No school. No shopping for 24 hours. Our goal is to maintain the safety of our people, while significantly impacting America’s broken judicial system that is oppressing us by removing our labor, our bodies and our money from it…for 24 hours. I ask everyone to follow #Missing24 on Instagram @_missing24 #ItsTime #CanWeDoIt? #ACallToAction #StayHomeSeptember262016 #RIPTerenceCrutcher #HandsUpDontShoot.”

On Twitter, many have shown solidarity with Washington and McCullogh, vowing to participate in the protest with the hashtag #StayHomeSeptember262016

#StayHomeSeptember262016 I’m down. Boycotting buses worked 50 years ago, so boycotting every business should have an incredible impact

— BMXmom (@ClassicRoz) September 22, 2016

Boycotting the world today #StayHomeSeptember262016

— Winston Heckt (@Winheckt) September 26, 2016

This country was built by us not for us. We have the power to bring about change. There is power in numbers. #StayHomeSeptember262016

— Origami Devereaux (@TheOriginal_Leo) September 21, 2016

#StayHomeSeptember262016
Enough is enough!!#FromAMomOfThreeBlackMen

— Ida Carson (@idacarson123) September 26, 2016

I’m down!!#StayHomeSeptember262016 #Missing24 solidarity with the movement how many people will participate? You can make a change

— audra harris (@Audra66Audra) September 25, 2016