Black Hollywood Continues to Take a Stand Against Police Violence with #OccupyCityHall: ‘This is a Profound Experience’

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Various members of Black Hollywood gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall in California July 17, joining #OccupyCityHall and the Black Lives Matter movements. Meagan Good and her husband DeVon Franklin were in attendance. Other notable celebrities included Tina Knowles-Lawson, Terrence Jenkins, Boris Kodjoe and Marlon Wayans. The protest was promoted on social media, and Good shared a video of Franklin speaking at the event.

Today we occupied LA City Hall & stood alongside Black Lives Matter in solidarity against all of the devastating killings that have taken place &continue to take place. One of the things that has been most frustrating on top of the things that are already horrific,is the narrative that's ensued. All this conversation implying that when people say "black lives matter", that they are some how saying that no other lives matter. THAT IS A LIE. Every single life in existence &every single innocent life that has been taken – Matters. It's important we shift the narrative of making up some story that all black people are militant, w/ no heart &don't care about anybody else but themselves. ITS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. Black lives have been under attack for a long time, we are only now just being able to really see the scope of some of it via social media . And it's just as horrifying that innocent cops -who had nothing to do with these particular instances have lost their lives as well. Blaming every single cop in the world is the same as blaming every single black person in the world for the cops that were killed. All of it is disgusting. We care about EVERYONE. My Father was LAPD for over 20 yrs, acknowledging the lives of young black men & women being carelessly killed like garbage does not negate the fact that we are devastated by the loss of life of public servants -some whom in fact do actually serve and protect daily. The ones who risk their lives and the pain of their own families as well. Nor does it negate the fact that we don't want to see anybody of any gender or nationality lose their life senselessly either! Please understand when people say black lives matter they are saying black lives matter "just as much" because somehow that is not a common notion for some. Please help shift the narrative & support pursuing agendas to bring about solutions & justice so we can stop this from continuing to spiral out of control. So we can put a stop to more innocent lives being taken. We all bleed the same coIor. If we don't come together- this thing is going to get much worse. #Unity #Love James 2:17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead

A video posted by @meagangood on Jul 17, 2016 at 8:24pm PDT

“Today we occupied LA City Hall & stood alongside Black Lives Matter in solidarity against all of the devastating killings that have taken place &continue to take place,” Good wrote on Instagram.

“I participated as a way to be part of producing a peaceful solution to the debilitating violence impacting our country,” Franklin told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “The bridge between the community, law enforcement and Hollywood is critical and we just want to help bring awareness to the issues and highlight productive solutions that can bring about the peace we all desperately need right now.”

#OccupyCityHall was launched in response to the July 12 decision by the Los Angeles Police Commission that the death of Redel Jones was “in policy,” according to the Jasmine Brand. Jones was fatally shot last year in a South Los Angeles alley after police claim she approached them with a knife. The victim allegedly matched the description of a female Black robbery suspect.

Yesterday was a profound experience for me. We gathered in front of city hall-members of the black Hollywood community united hand in hand with members of our communities who are out there tirelessly on the front line. Man, woman, and child black,brown and white all of us standing together for change across the nation. When we gather as one in peace with loving intention, fear can be eradicated and progress will prevail. @blacklivesmatter #lifematters #weareone #standforlove #wearethehumanrace Photo Credit: David Livingston

A photo posted by Kimberly Elise (@ikimberlyelise) on Jul 18, 2016 at 5:47am PDT

The Associated Press reports more than 100 protesters marched from LA police headquarters to city hall. Officers denied entry upon their arrival. The effort has been ongoing.

Omar Epps and wife Keisha; Kendrick Sampson; Affion Crockett; Eva Marcille; Nicole Ari Parker; Francis Fisher; Logan Browning; Kimberly Elise; and Lance Gross and were other celebrities who showed their support over the weekend.

Elise – who with Terrence J participated in rapper The Game’s secret Black Hollywood meeting July 14 to change race relations – shared an image of her with Lisa Hines. Hines is the mother of Wakiesha Wilson, who was found dead hanging in her jail cell in March.

Yesterday I had the honor to meet a true shero. The courage and grace of Lisa Hines, mother of Wakiesha Wilson who died while in police custody, should inspire and remind us all that we must rise up and stand as one to question these systems and bring an end to the injustices and devastating deaths that have plagued our nation. Ms. Hines is one of many facing loss and I send prayers of love and support to ALL the families who have lost loved ones. I know you all join me in that love for all our brothers and sisters. #standforlove #wearethehumanrace #weareonefamily #sayhername Photo Credit: David Livingston

A photo posted by Kimberly Elise (@ikimberlyelise) on Jul 18, 2016 at 8:05pm PDT

Sunday’s gathering to end violence against the Black community follows Game’s meeting where he signed a peace treaty to end gang violence in LA.