Was an ad on farmers' protest in India shown during Super Bowl? Here's why Sikhs in Fresno used MLK Jr quote
Farmers' protests in India have garnered international support in recent days, especially in the aftermath of Rihanna and Greta Thunberg's tweets featuring an article on the events. Now, an ad featured on the day of Super Bowl LV has come under scrutiny for calling attention to the protests.
A CNN news report detailed how internet access was blocked in several areas surrounding India's capital, New Delhi, following violent clashes between police and farmers protesting controversial agricultural reforms on January 26. The article stated that while officials said internet blackouts should have lifted by now, Paramjeet Singh Katyal, a spokesperson for Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body representing protesting farmers, said the internet was still not working.
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Fresno City community put that ad during the Super Bowl. This is great work by community to aware people regarding Farmers Protest. Thank you Fresno Sikh Community. #FarmersProtest #ReleaseDetainedFarmers pic.twitter.com/S81A9x49ut
— Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) February 8, 2021
India celebrates January 26 as its Republic Day. The day saw clashes break out in India's capital New Delhi between law enforcement and farmers, who have been protesting for nearly two months against three new agricultural laws that they consider a threat to their livelihoods. The protesters had allegedly shared their route with the police in advance, but chaos broke out when some farmers attempted to deviate from the approved path. Police reportedly used tear gas, sound grenades, and even beat protesters with batons.
When personalities like Rihanna, Mia Khalifa and Greta Thunberg tweeted on the farmers' plight, all of them were subjected to online harassment as they were called out for remarking on it.
As the protests continue in India, Super Bowl LV took place on Sunday, February 7, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs and Tom Brady taking his seventh Super Bowl title — he becomes only the second player to win the Super Bowl playing for two different teams.
A 30-second video opening with Martin Luther King Jr's quote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," has been making the rounds on social media as a Super Bowl ad. The ad features clips from news reports and calls the farmers' protests the "largest protests in the world." The ad also features a clip of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer saying, "We want you to know, our brothers and sisters in India, that we stand with you."
However, contrary to claims that the 30-second commercial aired during Super Bowl, it only aired in parts of California and did not air during the game.
A 30-second ad for Super Bowl costs around $5.6 million, according to Sporting News, and there are around 40 to 50 commercials that air during the game. The price came down a bit according to the outlet, which states that a 30-second ad for Super Bowl LV cost $5.5 million. However, the official list of Super Bowl ads for this year's edition does not list the Farmers' Protests commercial as being included in it.
