At the prestigious Human Rights Campaign's Los Angeles Dinner on Saturday evening, the star of Hacks, Hannah Einbinder, was feted with a well-deserved honor. She seized the opportunity on stage to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, her voice resonating through the gathering.
Receiving the HRC’s Visibility Award for her pivotal role in amplifying LGBTQ+ representation both on-screen and off, Einbinder declared to the enthralled audience, “My queerness, like my Judaism, stems from a lineage of social justice. These are traditions that embody humanity’s compassion for all life — every single life, treated equally.”
Her emotions evident, she continued passionately, “As a queer individual, a Jewish person, and an American, I am appalled by the Israeli government’s brutal massacre of over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza. I am ashamed and enraged that this slaughter is funded by our American tax dollars. It should be unmistakably clear that opposing the murder of civilians is not a contentious stance.”
Emphasizing that her “condemnation of Israel’s bombing of Gaza” stems not in spite of but because of her Jewish upbringing, she shared, “I cherish being Jewish and am immensely proud of my heritage. I was taught that questioning, inquisitiveness, argument, and wrestling with differing viewpoints are central to Judaism. It’s about challenging one’s own beliefs to continuously evolve into a better person and a better global citizen.” She added, “Silent compliance with a state committing atrocities in our name contradicts our deepest Jewish traditions. Israel’s actions do not serve Jewish safety, and equating them with the Jewish people only puts Jews at greater risk.”
The actress then referenced Mahmoud Khalil, the prominent Palestinian activist arrested for his advocacy at Columbia University. “Mahmoud Khalil, who stands alongside Palestinians and many Jewish students, calling for an end to the Israeli army’s bombing of his homeland, does not make me feel unsafe,” she stressed. “What makes me feel unsafe is Elon Musk and Steve Bannon saluting Hitler. It’s Donald Trump deeming a group of white nationalists with Tiki torches chanting, ‘Jews will not replace us,’ as ‘very fine people.’”
Einbinder concluded with a powerful message, “Our liberation will triumph when we loudly oppose the corporations ravaging our planet and the institutions enabling mass death. Visibility is a duty. Those of us with a platform must raise our voices to ensure that speaking out is never silenced.”
The glamorous event, held at the Fairmont Century Plaza, also celebrated Janelle Monáe and Ashley Park of Emily in Paris, with a captivating performance by David Archuleta.
