The Weeknd donates $250K to Black Lives Matter

Canadian Grammy-winning singer The Weeknd announced that he is donating $250,000 to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The announcement was made Wednesday, just days after the Can’t Feel My Face singer donated $50,000 to the University of Toronto to establish an Ethiopian studies program that will focus on teaching the ancient Ethiopian language of Ge’ez.

Born Abel Tesfaye, The Weeknd’s parents are from Ethiopia but the 26-year-old performer was raised in Toronto.

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This isn’t the first time singer-songwriter has shown his support for the movement.

Back in July, he spoke out on Twitter after two American black men – 37-year-old Alton Sterling and 32-year-old Philando Castile – were shot and killed by police.

Other musicians who have backed the #BlackLivesMatter movement include Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Chris Rock, Queen Latifah and more.

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Black Lives Matter, which advocates for justice and freedom for African-Americans, was founded in 2013 by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi. The chapter-based organization has garnered attention after rebuking police treatment of minorities.

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According to the Black Lives Matter website, the movement was created after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in 2012.

The Weeknd released his first major album in 2012 but gained wider traction when he released his third album, Beauty Behind the Madness, in 2015. He is most known for his singles The Hills, In The Night, Earned It and his collaboration with Ariana Grande on a track called Love Me Harder. 

With files from The Associated Press