Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — The tweet sent by Chadwick Boseman’s official account announcing his passing has become the most-liked of all time, according to Twitter.
The tweet included a black-and-white photo of the actor, along with a statement about his four-year battle with colon cancer, which he worked through while filming movies such as Da 5 Bloods,Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Marshall. It also noted that it was the “honor of his career” to star as King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther.
Fans on Twitter have also been working to organizeBlack Panther Twitter watch parties using the #BlackPanther and #WakandaForever hashtags, so Twitter has reactivated its original Black Panther emoji for the occasion.
Meanwhile, tonight at 8 p.m. ET, ABC will air Black Panther commercial free, followed by the ABC News special Chadwick Boseman — A Tribute for a King, which will air from 10:20 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.
It will feature the tributes to Bosman that have poured in from fellow actors, politicians and fans across the world, as well as comments from his co-stars and those who knew him best.
In an interview with ABC’s Popcorn with Peter Travers when Black Panther was first released, Boseman admitted that as a kid, he wasn’t aware of the character that would make him a household name, but recognized its importance later in life.
“It was not a superhero that I really knew as a kid,” Boseman told Travers of T’Challa. “I was introduced to it in college. And once I, y’know, saw how how powerful it was — you know, I wasn’t thinking about me playing it, but I knew it would be cool if it was ever done one day.”
During that same interview, Boseman also delivered a soulful rendition of the Bill Withers classic “Grandma’s Hands.”
(KENOSHA, Wisc.) — The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for Kenosha’s top law enforcement leaders to resign after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was paralyzed after being shot in the back by a white Kenosha officer, and resulting protests turned deadly.
Two days after Blake was shot, a counter-protester allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, has been charged in Wisconsin with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide, two counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon.
The ACLU called for the immediate resignation of Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis and Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth in a statement this week, charging that Beth’s deputies “fraternized with white supremacist counter-protesters” and “allowed the shooter to leave as people yelled that he was the shooter.” The ACLU further alleges that Miskinis “blamed the unidentified victims in Tuesday night’s shooting for their own deaths.”
At a news conference following the death of the two protesters, Miskinis pointed out they had broken the city’s 8 p.m. curfew.
“Persons who were out after the curfew became engaged in some type of disturbance and persons were shot,” he said. “Had persons not been in violation of that, perhaps the situation might not have happened.”
Miskinis has since said his comments were taken out of context.
During a Wednesday news conference, Beth attributed officers’ failure to arrest the shooter on the spot as having “tunnel vision” in a high-stress situation. While Beth himself wasn’t at the scene after the shooting, he imagined that the “screaming,” “hollering,” “chanting” and nonstop radio calls contributed to a chaotic scene in which the shooter walked free.
Beth previously had been criticized for making racist public comments. At a 2018 news conference, he called a group of Black individuals who were arrested after shoplifting and getting into a high-speed car chase with police “garbage people.”
“We need to build warehouses to put these people into it and lock them away for the rest of their lives,” Beth said during the 2018 new conference. “Let’s stop them from truly, at least some of these males, from going out and getting 10 other women pregnant and having small children.”
After meeting with the NAACP, Beth released a public apology letter.
“I should have kept my comments better directed toward the incident itself and not allowed my emotions to get the better of me,” he wrote. He would go on to recant that letter. “Everything I basically said in the press conference is really the way I feel,” he told the Kenosha News.
“The ACLU strongly condemns Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Miskinis’ response to both the attempted murder of Jacob Blake and the protests demanding justice for him,” said Chris Ott, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. “Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking out against police violence.”
The Kenosha Police Department didn’t immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
ABC News’ Catherine Thorbecke contributed to this report.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed an order on Friday obtained by ABC News, activating up to 1,000 National Guard members in the state.
The Republican governor did not cite a specific reason for signing the order.
The activation began on Friday and will continue until “further order” of the state’s senior National Guard officer, according to the statement.
The deployment is to “provide necessary assistance to State and local civilian authorities and/or special duty and emergency assistance for the preservation of life and property, preservation of order, and to afford protection to persons,” the order says.
The Guard members are being deployed “in the event that municipal leaders require their assistance,” according to a statement released by an unnamed spokesperson for the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and is “only at the request of, and in coordination with, the communities seeking support.”
The order comes amid protests in Wisconsin sparked by civil unrest over police brutality. Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday night.
Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday he authorized 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to support local law enforcement there after three people were shot and two killed in Kenosha overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
There were, however, no known major protests planned in Massachusetts this weekend.
ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.
sonreir es gratis/iStockBy ERIN SCHUMAKER, ABC News
(TUSCALOOSA, Al.) — As of Saturday, more than 1,200 students and 166 employees and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at the University of Alabama.
Positive tests among students have more than doubled since the university unveiled its COVID-19 tracking dashboard early this week. The dashboard, which includes case counts, positivity rates, isolation and space occupancy, is similar to what many state health departments use to report coronavirus data to the public.
“The rise we’ve seen in recent days is unacceptable, and if unchecked, threatens our ability to complete the rest of the semester on campus,” University of Alabama president Stuart Bell said at a press conference this week. “Now is the time for action.”
In recent days, students have shared photos on social media of crowds and lines outside of bars in Tuscaloosa, where the university is located. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox responded by issuing an executive order to close bars for 14 days, from Aug. 24 to Sept. 8.
“Based on my discussions with the University over the past 48 hours, the ever-increasing number of coronavirus cases on campus will create two major disruptions for Tuscaloosa if left unabated,” Maddox said at the Monday news conference.
While many universities have opted for remote-only learning because of the pandemic, large outbreaks linked to colleges and universities have been increasingly commonplace at schools that encouraged students to return to campus. In addition to the University of Alabama, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Central Florida are among the schools reporting spikes in COVID-19 infections among students and staff.
Alabama had recorded at least 113,700 COVID-19 cases and more than 2,000 deaths linked to the virus, according to the state health department.
Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — Minutes after the news broke that Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman had died at 43 after a years-long battle with colon cancer, social media was flooded with reactions from friends and fans alike.
Here are just some of them:
Marvel Studios: “Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace.”
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige: “Chadwick’s passing is absolutely devastating. He was our T’Challa, our Black Panther, and our dear friend. Each time he stepped on set, he radiated charisma and joy, and each time he appeared on screen, he created something truly indelible. He embodied a lot of amazing people in his work, and nobody was better at bringing great men to life. He was as smart and kind and powerful and strong as any person he portrayed. Now he takes his place alongside them as an icon for the ages. The Marvel Studios family deeply mourns his loss, and we are grieving tonight with his family.”
Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger: ” We are all heartbroken by the tragic loss of #chadwickboseman — an extraordinary talent, and one of the most gentle and giving souls I have ever met. He brought enormous strength, dignity and depth to his groundbreaking role of Black Panther; shattering myths and stereotypes, becoming a long-awaited hero to millions around the world, and inspiring us all to dream bigger and demand more than the status quo. We mourn all that he was, as well as everything he was destined to become. For his friends and millions of fans, his absence from the screen is only eclipsed by his absence from our lives. All of us at Disney send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Chris Pratt: “My prayers go out to Chadwick’s family and loved ones. The world will miss his tremendous talent. God rest his soul.”
Chris Evans: “I’m absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking. Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. Few performers have such power and versatility. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I’m endlessly grateful for our friendship. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in power, King. ”
Angela Bassett: “It was meant to be for Chadwick and me to be connected, for us to be family. But what many don’t know is our story began long before his historic turn as Black Panther. During the premiere party for Black Panther, Chadwick reminded me of something. He whispered that when I received my honorary degree from Howard University, his alma mater, he was the student assigned to escort me that day. And here we were, years later as friends and colleagues, enjoying the most glorious night ever! We’d spent weeks prepping, working, sitting next to each other every morning in makeup chairs, preparing for the day together as mother and son. I am honored that we enjoyed that full circle experience. This young man’s dedication was awe-inspiring, his smile contagious, his talent unreal. So I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother…”thou aren’t not dead but flown afar…”. All you possessed, Chadwick, you freely gave. Rest now, sweet prince.” #WakandaForever
Mark Ruffalo: “All I have to say is the tragedies amassing this year have only been made more profound by the loss of #ChadwickBoseman. What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.”
Sterling K. Brown: “I don’t have words. Rest In Peace, Bruh. Thank you for all you did while you were here. Thank you for being a friend. You are loved. You will be missed.”
Brie Larson: “Chadwick was someone who radiated power and peace. Who stood for so much more than himself. Who took the time to really see how you were doing and gave words of encouragement when you felt unsure.”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: “Hard to hear about this. Rest in love, brother. Thank you for shining your light and sharing your talent with the world. My love and strength to your family.”
Jamie Foxx: “Please Jesus please… I know you know what’s best… but at this moment our hearts are writhing with so much pain… so to lose this beautiful black king renders me weak…please watch over his family and loved ones…. @chadwickboseman you have touched the lives of all of us… u will forever be remembered in the highest regard… REST IN POWER! our black king! Our black panther!”
Joe Biden: “The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes. Jill and I are praying for his loved ones at this difficult time.”
Kamala Harris: “Heartbroken. My friend and fellow [Howard University] Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences to his family.”
Oprah Winfrey: “What a gentle gifted SOUL. Showing us all that Greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength, the Power it takes to do that. This is what Dignity looks like.”
Kerry Washington: “A warrior of light til the very end. A true king. I am without words. May he rise in power.”
DL Hughley: “…[H]e was not only a gifted actor, but a champion for equality and a role model to so many that had a superhero that looked like them. Rest Easy young man, you leave behind a beautiful legacy.”
Ice Cube: “I’m floored by this news, Chadwick was one of the best and I really enjoyed watching him work. RIP.”
Gabrielle Union: “Truly a gentleman superstar on screen and in life. Pure excellence and class and grace.”
Producer Matthew A. Cherry: “Chadwick was really out here shooting all of these huge action movies while fighting stage 4 colon cancer. Man. Strong isn’t even the word.”
Major League Baseball: “We are devastated by the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman. His transcendent performance in “42” will stand the test of time and serve as a powerful vehicle to tell Jackie’s story to audiences for generations to come.”
Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — The tweet sent by Chadwick Boseman’s official account announcing his passing has become the most-liked of all time, according to Twitter.
