Wilson teen honored at BET Awards for solo participation in school walkout
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (WTVD) -- A Wilson teenager was honored at the BET Awards Sunday night for his solo participation in a school walkout.
Each year, the award show gives out a Humanitarian Award that honors a celebrity who goes beyond their duty as an entertainer for their philanthropic impact on the world.
However, instead of giving out one award to a specific influence, six people were honored for the mark they've left on our culture over the last year.
Justin Blackman, 16, received the award after he was the only student to participate in a walkout at his school on National Walkout Day.
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On March 14, Blackman walked out of class at Wilson Preparatory Academy to protest gun violence after the mass shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17 people.
But once out of his classroom, the teen noticed one thing - he was the only participant.
Blackman tweeted a video about his experience saying, "It's National Walk Out Day and I'm the only one at my school out here."
And within a matter of minutes, his tweet went viral.
Other honorees included:
- James Shaw Jr. - tackled and wrestled the weapon away from Travis Reinkin, the accused suspect in the Tennesee Waffle House shooting
- Anthony Borges - a 15-year-old boy shot at Stoneman Douglas High School after he used his body to shield and protect about 20 other students
- Mamoudou Gassama - the man who scaled the side of building in Paris to save a small child
- Naomi Wadler - who led a walkout at her school and then gave a powerful speech two weeks later at the march for Our Lives Rally
- Shaun King - for his expose on the corruption of the NYPD's 42nd precinct
