In marking two months since George Floyd’s death (May 25, 2020), over 150 Black and Black-mixed actors from the U.S. and U.K. gathered to record “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime in the above music video to raise money for the StopWatch campaign.
The performance is led by Cavin Cornwall (Cats, Miss Saigon), Tommie Earl Jenkins (Jersey Boys, Aladdin), Emmanuel Kojo (Girl From the North Country), James T. Lane (Kiss Me, Kate, The Scottsboro Boys), Ako Mitchell (Ragtime at Charring Cross Theatre), Cedric Neal (After Midnight, Porgy & Bess), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Aladdin), Clarke Peters (The Iceman Cometh, Five Guys Named Moe), Mykal Rand (Five Guys Named Moe), Joe Aaron Reid (If/Then, Ghost: The Musical), Clive Rowe (Beauty and the Beast), Ray Shell (The Bodyguard, Driving Miss Daisy), Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Dreamgirls), Layton Williams (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), and Gary Wilmot (Me and My Girl), along with a 38-piece orchestra.
The StopWatch campaign has been fighting the use of stop and search since 2010. Run by lawyers, activists, and academics, the group works to promote effective, accountable and fair policing, inform the public about stop and search, develop and share research, organize awareness-raising events and forums, and provide legal support challenging stop and search. Donate here.
“Make Them Hear You” was written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. This video was produced by Danielle Tarento.