The Reverend Al Sharpton called for action at a Protest held in the shadows of the Academy Awards on Sunday (February 28), insisting that Hollywood has no more excuses for the lack of diversity and color at the Oscars, the entertainment industry’s biggest night of the year. Sharpton led the rally that attracted a crowd of around 50 protesters at the intersection of Highland and Sunset, the protest is part of a nationwide effort for the #OscarsSoWhite movement aimed at bringing focus to the issue. The protest in Hollywood was one of several taking part across the country. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, organizer of the Oscar awards, pledged to double its membership of women and minorities by 2020 through an ambitious affirmative action plan that includes stripping some older members of voting privileges. The announcement came amid a backlash over the absence of actors or filmmakers of color in this year’s Oscars nominations.