YouTube today announced “Bear Witness, Take Action,” a conversation aiming to unite and inspire the platform’s global community to take action for racial justice.
Premiering Saturday, June 13 at 6:00 pm ET / 3:00 pm PT, the over 90-minute special will be hosted by Common and Keke Palmer and feature YouTube creators, artists, influential public figures, and prominent activist voices. This is the first project from YouTube’s new $100M content fund, also announced today, which will be dedicated to amplifying Black voices on YouTube.
Led by Keke Palmer and Common, “Bear Witness, Take Action” will be structured with roundtable discussions and panels, powerful live moments, musical tributes, and more.
Moderators include Jemele Hill, Roland S. Martin, and Soledad O’Brien; panelists include Ambers Closet, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Patrisse Cullors, Kimberly N. Foster, Alicia Garza, Roxane Gay, Eddie Glaude, Andrew Hawkins, Kimberly Jones, Jouelzy, MN FATS, Prince EA, Rashad Robinson, Bakari Sellers, Michael Skolnik, Chaz Smith, and Baratunde Thurston; special guests Tremayne Anchrum, Carmelo Anthony, AyChristeneGames, Danielle Bainbridge, Essang Bassey, Shalom Blac, Asante Blackk, Sterling K. Brown, Hakeem Butler, Duke Dawson, De’arra & Ken, Khadi Don, Rasul Douglas, Teala Dunn, Bryce Hall, Skai Jackson, Jamilla & Que, Jarvis Landry, Alonzo Lerone, Indya Moore, Jeff Okudah, Laviska Shenault Jr., Bryan Stevenson, sWooZie and Wilmer Valderrama. The event will also feature moving musical performances from John Legend and Trey Songz.
Viewers will be encouraged to donate to support the Equal Justice Initiative directly on the YouTube live stream.