A few months back, the black community was in an uproar over the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. Out of this tragedy, the #BaltimoreRising movement began and people started to work together to make a difference.
Various performers, entertainers and stars wanted to lend their name, assistance to the effort in order to raise awareness of police brutality in black communities and funds for local organizations to help the people.
Among this group were Prince and Rihanna. Prince was able to hold a free benefit concert and actually raised over $35,000 with the help of Jay Z owned Tidal to help local organizations. However, Rihanna wasn’t allowed to perform.
To be more specific, Rihanna wasn’t issued a permit to host a free concert and was denied the opportunity to fund raise in person for the Freddie Gray tragedy and local organizations.
This information coming from the Baltimore Sun. They stated Rihanna and her people hoped to host a free concert for Baltimore residents, join in the protest with the people and raise some money in the process. The Sun released emails between the former head of media relations for the Baltimore Police Capt. Eric Kowalczyk and an officer.
[ADSENSE2] This information coming from the Baltimore Sun. They stated Rihanna and her people hoped to host a free concert for Baltimore residents, join in the protest with the people and raise some money in the process. The Sun released emails between the former head of media relations for the Baltimore Police Capt. Eric Kowalczyk and an officer.
The date of communication was May 1st, 2015 and it was about Rihanna’s request.
“Rihanna wants to walk with the protesters as well as perform a free concert,” the officer wrote. He added that she would be arriving by plane and, in an effort to divert press and media, she would be traveling to the city by train (or car, if necessary).
“[He] stated that they had hoped to secure some extra police security and was directed by the governor’s office to seek assistance through Communications,” the emails went on to detail.
There has been no reason given as to why the permit wasn’t granted to Rihanna in her efforts, but that doesn’t stop speculation. Some say it was because she would bring too much attention to police brutality, many say it was because she is a black woman and others say it was of the extra security she required from the Baltimore police department.
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