Social media users are turning their profile pictures blue for Sudan. This should lead one to ask: what’s happening in Sudan? Well, peaceful demonstrators are being met with military violence. As what started as a protest to oust then-President Omar al-Bashir (actually a dictator), took a turn for the worse when a transitional government came to power that was similar to al-Bashir. The military was called in to “retain order”.
Terrible actions taken by the military include killing peaceful protesters and rapes. The blue comes from when 26 year old Mohammed Hashim Mattar was murdered while trying to protect his fellow protesters. Mattar’s profile avatar at the time was the same single shade of blue.
According to Complex, celebrities like Bas, Naomi Campbell, Demi Lovato, and Yara Shahidi have shown their support for Sudanese demonstrators by changing their profile pictures to blue. Others including Cardi B and SZA, have posted the blue picture on Instagram.