The Empire State Building’s projection of Cecil the lion and other endangered animals is being criticized for ignoring the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

Along with Cecil, whose illegal killing sparked an international uproar, a snow leopard, tigers, lemurs and various snakes, birds and sea creatures were projected onto the building using 40 projectors, CNN reported.

The light display cost $1 million and was intended to promote the Oceanic Preservation Society’s documentary “Racing Extinction.”

Many social media users said the projection gave unfair attention to animals while ignoring the deaths of black people at the hands of police, The Huffington Post reported.

“I’m personally going to start wearing a lion costume when I leave my house so if I get shot, people will care,” writer Roxana Gay tweeted from her verified account, receiving nearly 9,500 retweets.

“Empire State Building put image of late lion Cecil but can’t put images of some of the lost black souls to discrimination #BlackLivesMatter,” wrote another tweeter.

“If only people could react the same way for the people murdered by Police brutality,” wrote another.

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.