Reverend Al Sharpton plans Oscars protest in Hollywood

The Rev. Al Sharpton has announced plans to stage a rally on Sunday prior to the Oscars to protest a lack of diversity in Hollywood.

The rally, announced Thursday, is also intended to support a push for a nationwide TV tune-out of the Academy Awards ceremony.

READ MORE: #OscarsSoWhite: 2016 Oscar nominees are almost all white, again

Critics say the awards show, with its second consecutive year of all-white acting nominees, has come to embody a diversity crisis in the entertainment industry. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite was created to bring attention to the issue.

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Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and Spike Lee previously announced their intention to not support the show.

READ MORE: Chris Rock remains Oscars host, writing “new show” to address #OscarsSoWhite

Sharpton’s demonstration will be held just a few blocks from the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are staged.

Other rallies are planned in New York, Virginia, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan. Nothing has been planned in Canada so far.