No one is free until everyone is free: American celebrities speak up for Palestine
The tide is turning and the shift is real. Yahoo! Entertainment and tabloid Pop Tingz reported that Selena Gomez has joined the list of Hollywood entertainers asking U.S. President Joe Biden for a ceasefire in Gaza. Gomez had previously come under fire for her statement on the war, as some of her fans felt she was taking the safe root out by saying "a post" won't "change the world."
Ace actor Susan Sarandon also lent her voice to the Palestinian cause. Quoting a post on X that shared an image of the star from a march for Palestine, Sarandon said, "You don’t have to be Palestinian to care about what’s happening in Gaza. I stand with Palestine. No one is free until everyone is free."
Selena Gomez has signed an open letter to President Joe Biden pleading for ceasefire in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/7OJYlk9iPS
— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) November 5, 2023
You don’t have to be Palestinian to care about what’s happening in Gaza. I stand with Palestine. No one is free until everyone is free. https://t.co/23JHFbuf5K
In addition to this, many portals, like Arab News, reported on U.S. rapper Macklemore's attendance at a pro-Palestine rally on Saturday in Washington, D.C. “I didn’t expect to be on a microphone,” said the musician. “There are thousands of people here more qualified to speak on the issue of a free Palestine than myself.”
He continued, “But I will say this. They told me to be quiet. They told me to do my research, to go back, that it’s too complex to say something, right? To be silent in this moment. In the last three weeks, I’ve gone back and I’ve done some research...I’m teachable. I don’t know enough. But I know enough that this is a genocide.”
Macklemore speaks at the “Free Palestine” rally in DC:
“They told me to do my research, that it’s too complex, to be silent … In the last 3 weeks, I’ve gone back & I have done some research, I don’t know everything, but I know enough to know that this is a genocide.” pic.twitter.com/QQcjZQcSFQ
Furthermore, American rapper and singer Kid Cudi (Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi) also took to his Instagram account to lend his influential voice to the cause. "The things I've been seeing in the news have been breaking my heart," he wrote on his feed post. "I can't watch what's happening in the world and remain silent. I can't imagine the pain people are feeling. Seeing their entire neighbourhoods bombed, losing generations of family members, parents crying over their children's lifeless bodies, communities turning into mass graves, people digging through the rubble of their homes in hopes of finding remains of their loved ones - a pain no one should have to go through."
He added, "It doesn't feel right to share the music I have coming out and pretend like there isn't a part of the world burning, thousands of people being murdered." Additionally, he said, "I know some people are [going to] disagree with me, but that's okay. As a Black man, I stand against all forms of oppression. And as an artist, I feel responsible to give a voice to the unheard, and to celebrate the spirit of all people through my work and my presence. It matters to me that my art represents my deepest beliefs about what I think humanity can look like. I'm hopeful we won't attack each other on the basis of upholding basic human rights. I'll always encourage peace for everyone - physical peace, mental peace, spiritual peace. No matter the religion or ethnicity, the loss of innocent lives is never acceptable."
The rapper continued to state, "I recognise that there's more to the story than what's happened over these past few weeks. And it goes without saying, I love my Jewish brothers and sisters and condemn any violence towards them. Your losses are unimaginable and you are all in my prayers. My prayers also go out to the hostages and their families, may they be returned safely. In the same breath, the collective punishment Palestinians are suffering under Israel's illegal occupation is unfathomable. Anti-Semitism is never welcome. But let's be clear - supporting Palestinian liberation is not antisemitic, it's human. Palestinians deserve their freedom. This isn't politics, these are real lives. And I'm just a dude who gives a f--- about humanity."
He concluded, signing his name at the end, "I stand with the people of Palestine as they demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the ongoing genocide. My heart goes out to all my brothers and sisters of all faiths and backgrounds who are suffering. Free Palestine!" Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul also commented on the post, saying, "Love you, brother."
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