Jodie Foster Leads Two Thousand at Hollywood’s Anti-Trump Rally: ‘It’s Time to Engage’

Oscar-winner addresses crowd at talent agency UTA’s “United Voices” event

jodie foster uta rally immigration ban trump
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Industry pros, entertainers and civilians assembled by the hundreds today for United Talent Agency’s “United Voices” rally outside the company’s Beverly Hills headquarters.

Among the featured speakers at the event protesting Trump administration immigration policies was Oscar-winner Jodie Foster, who told the crowd that “it’s time to engage.”

“As the very, very dead Frederick Douglass once said, ‘Anytime is a good time for illumination,’” Foster said. “And this is the time for illumination. I believe this time is filled with light.”

UTA canceled its annual Oscars bash and organized the event after Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily banning immigration from several majority-Muslim nations. The ban was repeatedly halted by Federal courts and the administration eventually abandoned it. Trump is expected to unveil another executive order on immigration some time next week.

UTA Oscar Protest Among those present were Rodrigo Moran and Meron Semedar from the advocacy group Refugee Nation. The duo were invited to attend by UTA, and carried with them a large orange flag designed by a Syrian refugee named Yara Said. Said, said Moran, based the flag on the life vest she wore while escaping from the war-torn Middle Eastern nation.

“I’m here to hopefully lend some credence to the notion that Donald Trump doesn’t represent all of America,” said commercial photographer August Gering. “Hopefully, the majority of this country strongly disagrees with the things he’s trying to do, and we won’t stand for it.”

“Outlander” star Sam Heughan was also on hand, telling TheWrap. “We’re just here, not to bash anyone.” Europe, he said, wants “the best for this glorious country. America’s such a great country, we look up to you guys and we know you’ll do the right thing.”

By its conclusion, an estimated two thousand people attended the event, according to Beverly Hills PD.

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