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The Weeknd Donates $500,000 to Racial Equality Organizations

Photo credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images
Photo credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

From Seventeen

The Weeknd is giving back in a big way for Black Lives Matter after protests around the world were sparked by the death of George Floyd.

Abel took to his Instagram page on Blackout Tuesday to reveal his new donations to several organizations. He donated $200,000 to both Black Lives Matter and The Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative, which helps Black and brown communities understand their rights through camps and help provide legal assistance to those who have been arrested. He also gave $100,000 to the National Bail Out fund.

"Keep supporting our brothers and sisters out there risking everything to push for actual change for our black lives," he wrote. "Urging everyone with big pockets to give and give big and if you have less please give what you can even if it's a small amount."

In a second post, he called out music executives at Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music, Spotify and Apple Music and asked them to make donations to organizations that are working to help Black communities.

"To my fellow respected industry partners and execs- no one profits off of black music more than the labels and streaming services," he said. "I gave yesterday and I urge you to go big and public with yours this week. It would mean the world to me and the community if you can join us on this."

Blackout Tuesday's original initiative was to have people in the music industry take the day off to stop and reflect on the changes they would like to make in the future to help make it better for Black and other artists of color.

The Weeknd is currently signed under his own music label, XO, which is a subsidiary of Universal Music's Republic Records.

Find out how you can help demand justice for George Floyd.

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