Celebrities such as Katy Perry have been vocal in urging U.S. citizens to contact their lawmakers and speak out against the federal immigration officials' killing of two U.S. citizens during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota. On Monday, Perry called on her Instagram followers to write to their U.S. senators and urge them to oppose funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which is a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
The tragic deaths of Renee Good, a devoted mother of three, and Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, have sparked widespread demonstrations against President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies in Minnesota. "The Last of Us" star Pedro Pascal shared drawings of Good and Pretti on Instagram with the caption: "Pretti Good reason for a national strike." Singer Billie Eilish also posted on Instagram, calling Pretti "a real American hero" and urging others to raise their voices: "Hey, my fellow celebrities, are you going to speak up? Or what?"
The National Basketball Players Association, the union for NBA players, issued a statement on Sunday that players "can no longer remain silent." It said, "Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota who are protesting and risking their lives to demand justice."
Despite the official stance of the Trump administration that the recent killings were acts of self-defense by officers, video evidence from the scenes contradicts this characterization.
U.S. celebrities have often spoken out on behalf of social and political causes. Many have criticized police brutality after the killing of George Floyd and Israel's assault on Gaza. This latest incident has only added fuel to their activism and determination to bring justice to those affected by unjust policies and practices.
