The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are one of the few big, cultural moments that attracts the attention of young people across the country and the world, meaning that any sort of statement made at the VMAs can reverberate and impact an audience. That’s exactly what Beyonce set out to do this year as she invited a few of the mothers of victims of police violence to walk the red carpet alongside her and her daughter, Blue Ivy.
Beyonce brought out the mothers of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Oscar Grant, reports Fader. Lesley McSpadden, Sybrina Fulton, Wanda Johnson and Gwen Carr posed on the red carpet for photos together, as well as with Beyonce and her daughter. They have also appeared together in her much-lauded visual album, Lemonade. The mothers have been making public-speaking appearances of late, talking about police violence in America, including a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Mothers of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Oscar Grant at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/NBvC6y6SdO
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) August 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/DavidGrapeJuice/status/770044706864717825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Beyoncé brought the mothers of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner & Oscar Grant to the #VMAs tonight ❤️🍋 pic.twitter.com/iAI7LPxoZU
— BEYONCÉ LEGION 𐚁 (@BeyLegion) August 28, 2016
Beyonce has been in the news in the lead-up to the VMAs already, rumored to perform and make a huge impact. On top of that, MTV revived the Best Longform Video category in lieu of the popularity of Beyonce’s Lemonade, with many expecting her to easily walk away with the award.
(Via Fader)
Stay updated with our list of 2016 MTV Video Music Award winners and also check out our live-updating red carpet coverage as the show rolls on.
