A total of $604,155.22 was raised for various Black Lives Matter-linked organisations during the nearly six-hour YouTube Live stream.
The Live stream was held on Sean McLoughlin’s personal YouTube channel and had garnered over $14,000 worth of donations from viewers before Sean had joined.
In co-operation with long-standing partner, Tiltify, Sean set up his own linktree to allow viewers to pledge money toward their choice of four different organisations: The Bail Project, a non-profit organisation helping free incarcerated individuals; NAACP Empowerment Programs, the NAACP’s charitable arm aiming to create equity for people of colour; Color of Change, a non-profit civil rights group fighting for the rights of Black Americans; and Advancement Project, an activist group working to protect communities of colour.
The five hour and 50-minute stream saw Sean begin an open discussion about the issue that inspired this fundraiser: the Black Lives Matter movement. He emphasised his personal belief that people must commit to being “actively anti-racist”, which involves no longer being “complacent”, “compliant”, or “complicit” towards racism, and educating oneself.
Sean’s viewers were also called to action to highlight Black creators within the internet community, using the #BLMart hashtag, rather than filling the space with content that is focused on himself. This dialogue was built on, with Sean saying he was choosing not to promote his own products, such as his new coffee brand, as to not virtue signal or take away from the important conversation.
I am at a complete loss for words! $600,000 raised in less than 6 hours!! Thank you for being caring and compassionate but also incredibly generous! #BlackLivesMattter pic.twitter.com/bNuNCPjhwT
— Jacksepticeye (@Jack_Septic_Eye) June 9, 2020
The fundraiser was first announced on Sean’s Twitter account and later in a YouTube video, where he explained his decision to not post for an entire week prior, based on not wanting to gloss over the real-life events with his own content.
Those wishing to donate to the fundraiser can do so via its official linktree page. Additional resources for those interested in getting involved in the Black Lives Matter movement can be found via the Black Lives Matter Carrd.
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