Elon Musk Mocks "Stay Woke" Initiative Sparked By Ferguson Protests

BYErika Marie3.5K Views
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Elon Musk attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
In 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed by Ferguson police. Musk laughed off the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" movement as "fiction."

Twitter's future may be unclear to many of its users, but Elon Musk is pushing forward. The Tesla boss acquired the microblogging platform for a cool $44 billion, and people have expressed concern. Musk's attitude, political affiliations, and alleged egomaniacal decision-making have resulted in a sweep of firings.

There has been one antic after another in recent months, and this week, Musk is once again under fire. He shared a video of a closet at Twitter Headquarters filled with shirts that read, "Stay Woke."

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Read More: New Footage From Night Before Michael Brown’s Death Reignites Ferguson Protests

The merchandise was first introduced in 2016 courtesy of the "Twitter Blackbirds." The Daily Beast reported that the platform created the initiative to "support diversity at Twitter," but these days, Musk is laughing at their efforts.

Subsequently, Musk explained that the "#StayWoke" Twitter movement was in response to the Ferguson protests that emerged following the death of Michael Brown. In 2014, the 18-year-old was shot and killed by Ferguson, Missouri police. It was widely reported that his hands were up at the time, resulting in the popularized phrase, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot."

However, Musk seemingly laughed about the protests, adding that Brown allegedly didn't have his hands in the air at the time. “Obama’s own DOJ proved this [and] exonerated the cop," said Musk. "‘Hands up don’t shoot’ was made up. The whole thing was a fiction."

Read More: J. Cole Talks About His Visit To Ferguson & Shares His Thoughts On Michael Brown

Musk quickly earned backlash as people countered his point with reports from the Department of Justice that stated the opposite. Musk and his now-deleted posts have sparked a debate on Twitter as far-right conservatives defend him against activists calling for Brown's family to be given peace.

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About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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