Blue for Sudan: People Show Solidarity for Sudanese Protesters by Turning Accounts Blue

Social media users around the world are going #BlueForSudan.

Over the past several days, a growing number of people have changed their profile pictures to a plain blue image in support of the north African country, where peaceful demonstrators are being met with military violence. The months-long protests began with a 2018 uprising against then-President Omar al-Bashir, a brutal dictator who ruled Sudan for 30 years. Shortly after al-Bashir was ousted in April, a transitional military council took control to “retain order”; however, the council was made up of figures who shared al-Bashir’s ideology.

“All Sudanese people are in the street and demanding the downfall of the regime and not recycling the same people,” activist Omar al-Neel told CNN.

The military have responded to the demonstrations with severe violence, including mass rapes and killings. On June 3, a paramilitary group murdered more than 100 peaceful protesters during a sit-in. One of the victims was 26-year-old Mohamed Mattar, who was killed while trying to protect his fellow protesters. At the time of his death, Mattar’s profile avatar was the same blue image being used in the online movement.

Celebrities like Bas, Naomi Campbell, Demi Lovato, and Yara Shahidi have shown their support for Sudanese demonstrators by changing their profile pictures to blue. Rihanna, Cardi B, and SZA have also joined the online movement with Instagram posts that call attention to Sudan’s crises.