All race on the western front

NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK — [issued a statement]

Reverend Al Sharpton, President

STATEMENT BY REV. AL SHARPTON BLASTING THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN TODAY’S OSCAR NOMINATIONS—

SHARPTON CALLS FOR MEETING WITH NAN TASK FORCE IN HOLLYWOOD TO ASSESS ACTION

January 15, 2015 (New York, NY)— “The lack of diversity in today’s Oscar nominations is appalling and while it is good that Selma was nominated for ‘Best Picture,’ it’s ironic that they nominated a story about the racial shutout around voting while there is a racial shutout around the Oscar nominations. With all of the talent in Selma and other Black movies this year, it is hard to believe that we have less diversity in the nominations today than in recent history. National Action Network (NAN) has formed a task force on the movie industry to deal with diversity as I engage in dialogue with Sony Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal. The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains, the higher you get, the whiter it gets. I have called an emergency meeting early next week in Hollywood with the task force to discuss possible action around the Academy Awards.”

-Rev. Al Sharpton, President, National Action Network