Actors and entertainment professionals have called on the leadership of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) to issue a public statement condemning the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, as well as the “McCarthyite repression of members who express solidarity with the suffering of Palestinians” in the industry.
In an open letter released last Wednesday, more than 700 members of one of Hollywood’s largest unions called on their association to take a stand to protect pro-Palestinian voices from being blacklisted in the film and entertainment industry.
“We demand that (our leadership) speak out about the targeting and killing of innocent Palestinian civilians, health workers, and our fellow journalists… and eliminate any ambiguity about our solidarity with workers, artists, and the oppressed around the world,” the letter said.
The letter was signed by a number of well-known figures, including Mark Ruffalo, Cynthia Nixon, Common, Susan Sarandon, Riz Ahmed, and Rosie O’Donnell.
She adds that the union issued a statement condemning Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, saying, “We regret and condemn the horrific acts of aggression against the Israeli people,” but “remained silent” despite “clear human rights violations by Israel and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories for decades.”
A number of Hollywood stars have been pressured or fired by studios and agencies because of their criticism of the Israeli attack on Gaza.
Last November, Mexican actress Melissa Barrera was fired from the “Scream” film series over her social media posts criticizing Israel’s bombing of Gaza, which production company Spyglass Media called “anti-Semitic.”
Barrera had regularly posted about the war on her accounts, including retweeting a post accusing Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
On the same day, Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon was terminated by her talent agency after speaking at a pro-Palestine rally, where she said people were “starting to get over the brainwashing” about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Some members of the entertainment industry have reported being “punished” for their support of the Palestinians.
Guild members said they had tried several times to reach out to the guild leadership to draft a joint statement, but those efforts were ignored, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Gabriel Kornbluh, a board member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and a leader of the strike, criticized the union’s leadership, saying its inaction was undermining the solidarity built during last year’s months-long strike.
“I have lost confidence in President Drescher’s ability to lead our union toward justice,” he continues. “As a Jewish member, not on my own behalf and not on behalf of my union, I say this: If our leadership continues to go along with the dehumanization of Palestinians, then we are derelict in our duty as artists and union members alike.”