Fan of BTS have raised $1 million to match the South Korean group’s earlier donation to the Black Lives Matter Movement, according to an online fan base that organises fund raising events.
The One In An ARMY have been running campaigns since 2018 and were inspired by BTS’ own charitable spirit; in the past the music sensations have partnered with UNICEF for an End Violence campaign and the individual members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – have regularly donated to various causes in Korea.
On Monday, One In An ARMY in a statement said the live donation total to Black Lives Matter surpassed $817,000 within 24 hours after BTS' donation was reported.
"We're so proud that ARMY have once again channelled their power for good and are making a real impact in the fight against anti-black racism," OIAA said.
"We stand in solidarity with black ARMY. They're an important part of our family. And we stand with black people everywhere. Your voices deserve to be heard."
The campaign had raised $1,007,518 as of Monday at 9:47 am (0047 GMT), and will continue indefinitely, the organisers said.
Earlier, popular South Korean band BTS donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter (BLM) in support of U.S. protests against police brutality, its music label, Big Hit Entertainment, said.
On Thursday, the seven-member BTS wrote on its Twitter account that they are against racism and violence with the hashtag BlackLivesMatter: “We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.” The hashtag went viral among the K-Pop group’s fans and started another wave of donations with a new hashtag, MatchAMillion.
The rolling, global protests reflect rising anger over police treatment of ethnic minorities, sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a white officer detaining him knelt on his neck. (With inputs from Reuters)
