Super Bowl Plays Ad On India’s Farmers’ Protest

This year’s California Super Bowl has played a 40-second commercial on the ongoing farmers’ protest in India. The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the world. The game is the culmination to a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year.

The commercial on farmers’ started with a quote by American Baptist minister and activist, Martin Luther King Jr, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It also mentioned that India’s protest is the largest protest ever in history. Later, the City of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is seen saying “we want you to know, our brothers and sisters in India, that we stand with you.”

It also mentioned that Rihanna tweeted on the issue. Since the commercial was on the air only in the Fresno county area on CBS, to make it aware nationally, it was also posted on social media. Soon after, many users have retweeted and liked it. It was crowdfunded ad, initiated by Indian-American banker Raj Sodhi Layne and her friends.

This annual championship is watched by millions of viewers at home. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 Super Bowl has the lowest attendance in history, that is, only 25K watched it in person.