Scandal and Django Unchained actress Kerry Washington took to Instagram to criticize President Trump over his border and immigration policy. The actress who had been rumored to play Domino in Deadpool 2 and gave voice to Shuri in the [easyazon_link identifier=”B006S012PS” locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]animated Black Panther TV series[/easyazon_link] detailed a visit she made to a camp in Tijuana, Mexico. She described it as an “eye-opening” experience before claiming the current administration is Traumatizing children, separating families, and subjecting refugee to inhumane conditions.
Washington would then declare, “Not on our watch. Not with our tax paying dollars.”
Washington specifically wrote:
“Today I went to Tijuana, Mexico with @fams2gether & @iwillharness (and some other familiar faces 😍) to see, FIRSTHAND, how asylum seekers are being treated. It was an eye opening & heart breaking experience. We were able to bear witness to how the current administration is treating refugee families. We MUST demand better. @fam2gether is doing GOD’S work!!! They are working tirelessly to protect and reunite all families at the border because this has to stop! NO MORE. No more traumatizing children, no more separating families, no more subjecting refugees to inhumane conditions. Not on our watch. Not with our tax paying dollars.”
The actress is no stranger to political advocacy. In 2016, she starred in a campaign ad for then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Presidential race. In the ad, she discussed her support for the candidate.
During the 2017 Screen Actors Guild awards, she went on to press fellow Hollywood actors to continue to advocate for political causes:
“A lot of people are saying right now that actors shouldn’t express their opinions when it comes to politics. But the truth is, actors are activists, no matter what because we embody the worth and humanity of all people. This union really helps me to do that. I’m Kerry Washington, and I am an actor.”
.@kerrywashington‘s message to those who think actors shouldn’t get involved in politics https://t.co/qsszTH6ht8 pic.twitter.com/uCHPqOWGm4
— Variety (@Variety) January 30, 2017
Also that evening she wore a safety pin. Speaking to E! News Washington went on to say: “The safety pin is a symbol of solidarity and standing up for people who are feeling endangered at this time: people of color, the LGBTQ community, women.”
What do you think of Washington’s claims about the border and immigration policy? And is she right about actors being more vocal in their political advocacy? Or are they risking alienating fans who just want to be able to detach from reality for a few hours? Let me know your thoughts!