Celebrities including Evan Rachel Wood, Sia, and Lena Dunham are taking action to protest the separation of migrant families at the border.
Celebrities seeking ways to use their fame for humanistic reasons are increasingly focusing on the issues surrounding the U.S./Mexico border. For some celebrities, speaking out from home isn’t enough.
Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” border policy sparks concern
The “zero-tolerance” policy implemented by the Trump administration has resulted in treating adults seeking to migrate over the border as criminal offenders. That policy resulted in children accompanying those adults to be separated from their families.
Even though the White House subsequently stopped separating kids from their parents, questions on how to reunite those families continue to be unanswered. Many celebrities have come to the border to rally and channel their concern for the separated families.
Lena Dunham speaks out in support of migrant families
Turning to Instagram, Lena Dunham shared that her visit to Tornillo, Texas, with other celebrities was designed to “show our solidarity with the families who have been separated, the children who are alone, the parents who are grieving and the undocumented Americans who are losing more than I can fathom.”
Dunham thanked celebrities who joined her in protest, with the list including Bella Thorne, Amber Heard, Mira Sorvino, Sia, and more.
Evan Rachel Wood takes activism to next level
To learn more about the United States and Mexico border situation, Evan Rachel Wood told People that she toured Texas. Wood explained that she believes it’s never “too late to want to make a change, and that’s why I’m here now because I want to learn.”
During a visit to a shelter in McAllen, Texas, the 30-year-old Westworld actress talked with immigrant families and delivered supplies. Wood described the emotional pain that she noticed in family members of all ages. Being there in person brought home the trauma of their situation for Wood.
“ to put faces with the stories to actually be there and hug the children and play with them, see how sweet and loving they are but to see how tired and in pain they are — and see the fear in their parents’ eyes,” explained Wood.
Celebrities fasting over immigration crisis
In addition to touring the shelter and providing supplies to the families there, Wood is taking part in a 24-hour hunger strike and prayer chain. The chain was created to draw attention to the over 2,400 children who found themselves taken from their parents because of the “zero tolerance” policy.
Kerry Kennedy turned to Twitter to encourage others to join her in the 24-day chain hunger fast. According to the Break Bread Not Families site, celebrities participating in the fast in addition to Wood include Martin Sheen, Alfre Woodard, C.C.H. Pounder, LeVar Burton, and Alec Baldwin.
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Want to support migrant families yourself? An Upworthy writer created the helpful site IReallyDoCare.com where you can quickly donate to 14 pro-immigrant groups.