Will Packer Starts Rattler Freedom Fund to Support Florida A&M

“I’m in a unique position because I work in Hollywood. I’m not in front of the camera, but I still have a profile, certainly with African American audiences who have been very supportive of my content,” producer Will Packer told Variety.

As the clock ticks down to the November 3 midterm elections, Hollywood’s boldface names have kept a low profile when it comes to politics. Not Will Packer. Known for producing hit movies and TV shows ranging from Girls Trip and Straight Outta Compton to the Peacock limited series Fight Night and the 2022 Academy Awards telecast, he has recently taken the stage to champion causes and candidates he supports, connecting voter turnout initiatives with a fresh financial independence campaign for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Rallies, Ballots, and the Fight for Florida A&M

On October 23, Packer led a rally at his alma mater, Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, urging students to flex their power by voting in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Packer shared the stage with Democratic candidates Angie Nixon and David Jolly, running in Florida’s races for U.S. and governor, respectively. Flanked by candidates including Gwen Graham, candidate for Florida Lt. Gov., and Annette Taddeo, candidate for Florida chief financial officer, Packer spoke about the state of affairs in the Sunshine State.

He addressed the audience by pointing out that long-standing Republican leadership in the Sunshine State has resulted in severe underfunding for Florida A&M (also known as FAMU). For Packer, who graduated magna cum laude from FAMU in 1996 with a degree in electrical engineering, the university’s survival is deeply personal.

“If it was not for my HBCU experience, I wouldn’t be where I am. It’s where I found my voice. It’s where I really found the foundation for me being a creative producer that I am,” Packer said.

That personal tie resulted in an institutional initiative during the October 23 rally, when Packer revealed that he is launching the Rattler Freedom Fund—a nod to FAMU’s rattlesnake mascot. The private fundraising model is designed to assist FAMU, which is part of Florida’s state university system.

The Threat of Political Capture and the Case for Independence

Public universities operate at the mercy of whoever holds the keys to the statehouse. In recent years, Packer argues, Florida A&M has been buffeted by “some very hard core MAGA philosophy” that has penetrated the Florida statehouse, leading to what he describes as a MAGA takeover of a prominent institution.

“When you are completely dependent on resources and financing from a government, then you are subject to the whims of that government and we’re seeing that play out in real time,” Packer noted. The Rattler Freedom Fund is a nonpartisan, independent organization to finance the aims and missions and students at our schools, shielding the school from government interference. Packer confirmed that since breaking the news at the rally, he has received calls from other HBCUs looking to be involved.

The stakes extend far beyond campus borders. In a political landscape defined by bitter political polarization and efforts to denude the history of slavery from high school curriculums, Packer views the current electoral moment as existential.

Weighing the Personal Cost of Political Visibility

Speaking out publicly carries risk for any public figure. Packer recounted a conversation with a high-profile rapper-slash-actor who insisted there is no win to coming out and saying anything politically. Packer compared the hesitation to the doubts he fielded when recruiting a host for the 2022 Oscar telecast.

“I hear the same thing about politics. But I feel like, we’re on this earth for however long God allows us to be. What are you doing with yourself and your human voice and your mission?” Packer reflected.

With Black voter turnout widely viewed by commentators and pollsters as a factor that could tip the scales for Democrats in states like Florida and Georgia, Packer believes staying on the sidelines is not an option.

As voters prepare to fill out their ballots by November 3, Packer’s push for high electoral turnout and independent HBCU endowment structures highlights an unfolding strategy: building economic and political power.