Celebrities at Oscars wear red pins to support Gaza cease-fire calls
Several celebrities attending the 96th Academy Awards wore red pins to show support for a cease-fire in Gaza, as pro-Palestinian protesters blocked roads nearby and delayed the start of the ceremony.
The red pins were distributed by Artists4Cease-fire, a group of celebrities and entertainment industry members who collectively signed a letter late in October asking US President Joe Biden to demand a
cease-fire as well as the safe release of captives in Gaza. The pin design shows a red glossy circle with a hand and a black heart, aljazeera.com reported.
“The pin symbolizes collective support for an immediate and permanent cease-fire, the release of all of the hostages, and for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza,” Artists4Cease-fire said in a press release.
“Compassion must prevail,” it added. The more than 380 signatories include Cate Blanchett, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez and Bradley Cooper.
“We are asking for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza,” actor and comedian Ramy Youssef told US media. “We are asking for justice and peace for the Palestinian people and also, you know, a really universal message, which is let’s just stop killing the children,” he added.
Prior to Sunday’s ceremony, the red pins were seen at the Grammys and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards in February. During that time, actor Mark Ruffalo was also spotted wearing the pin.
“We’re not going to bomb our way to peace, and all we’re saying is, what’s wrong with giving a cease-fire a chance?” Ruffalo said on the DGA red carpet.
Outside the Dolby Theatre, some groups held up placards and chanted for a cease-fire in Gaza, blocking several lanes of traffic.
Among the protesters was SAG-AFTRA Members for a Cease-fire, a group of working actors.
The demonstrators said they sought to ensure that Israel’s assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah was not ignored, even amid the glitz and glamour of the evening.
More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in five months of the Israeli military offensive, which has prompted concerns over the risk of genocide and famine.