Several nominees and winners took this year’s Emmy awards to call for the international community to end its complicity in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. ‘Hacks’ star Hannah Einbinder, who won the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, shouted “Free Palestine” as she was played off the stage. Javier Bardem, nominated for his role in the Netflix series ‘Monsters,’ was also outspoken to press before the award show. As an interviewer for the Spanish outlet El Mundo proposed to Bardem that he would be the first Spaniard to win an Emmy, the Oscar winner responded: “That is not important, I am happy to be here, but I am here to use this platform… to talk about the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”
Like Bardem, hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have raised their voices in solidarity with Palestinians and outrage over nearly two years of constant Israeli shelling, bombardment and blockade. In response to this sustained solidarity movement, Spanish officials have had no other choice than to finally act, cancelling arm deals and calling for Israel’s banning from international sports and other cultural competitions.
Those of us here in the United States and around the world should follow the example of those like Bardem and others, using every platform we have access to, even if it is just at work or school. We must make our opposition to the Israeli government’s crimes in Palestine heard and felt, until Israel is forced to end its murderous assault.
