Days after pop-star Rihanna and climate change activist Greta Thunberg highlighted India’s ongoing farmer agitation to the global stage, a 30-second ad about it made its way to the US Super Bowl.
The 30-second clip which was tweeted by several handles on Monday proved that the clip indeed went on air.
The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched sporting events in the US and a commercial aired during the event could cost between $5 to 6 million, according to media reports.
The commercial, which was allegedly funded by the Sikh community of Fresno, began with a quote from Martin Luther King: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’
Images from the farmers’ tractor parade and their border camps were overlaid with text alleging human rights violations against protesters. “No Farmers, No Food, No Future” flashes on the screen.
It included a message from Fresno mayor Jerry Dyer. “We want you to know, our brothers and sisters in India, that we stand with you,” he says. Fresno has a large Sikh population, as high as 40,000, according to some local reports. Pop music icon Rihanna’s viral tweet on the protests also gets a mention.
“Fresno City community put that ad during the Super Bowl. This is great work by the community to aware people regarding Farmers Protest. Thank you Fresno Sikh Community,” said the Kisan Ekta Morcha tweet.
According to media reports the Fresno community crowdfunded the ad. Indian-American banker Raj Sodhi-Layne and her friends put together the 30-second ad which was aired on CBS in Fresno County.
