United Talent Agency protests Trump...ban by canceling Oscar party and donating $250,000 to ACLU

[babylonsister]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/uta-protests-trump-muslim-ban-cancels-oscar-party-rally-article-1.2967526?utm_content=buffer5548b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
United Talent Agency protests Trump Muslim ban by canceling Oscar party and donating $250,000 to ACLU

BY Don Kaplan
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 3:21 PM


Hollywood just handed civil rights lovers a big boost.

Officials at United Talent Agency are so outraged by President Trump’s Muslim ban that the agency has scrapped its annual pre-Oscar party and instead will donate $250,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committe.

The party — typically attended by hundreds of tinseltown’s brightest stars including UTA clients like Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo, Alicia Vikander and filmmakers Ethan and Joel Coen — was held last year at the $11 million, 7,125-square-foot mansion owned by UTA chairman and mega-agent Jim Berkus.

In place of the party, UTA will sponsor an pro-immigration rally “to express the creative community’s growing concern with anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States,” agency officials said.

snip//

Trump’s shocking immigration ban had a direct impact on UTA — the firm represents Academy Award-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi who was nominated for another Oscar this year in the best foreign-language film category for “The Salesman.”

[Maven]

1. Very proud of my industry.

Good move, UTA.

[calimary]

2. NICE! I hope this isn't the only one!

[Lucinda]

3. KNR

[Hekate]

4. Knr

[DippyDem]

5. Woot! That is very cool!

So nice to get cool news now and then. Thank you to all performing artists!

[smirkymonkey]

6. Bravo!

Beautiful gesture!

[workinclasszero]

7. Great!

The ACLU will be on the front lines fighting Trump's Fourth Reich.

They can put that large sum to good use.

[frazzled]

8. The Oscars are going to be very much worth watching this year

One can scoff at celebrities and the institutions of Hollywood for both their excesses and their trivialities. But remember, every one of those celebrities, as well as the writers, directors, camera people, and all the crew members are union members. Most of them endorse liberal causes.

These people have a platform for one night that is watched by millions, here and abroad, and I have a good feeling that many will use their moment in the sun to help the "resistance."

I'm certainly going to tune in—both to criticize the dresses and await the speeches.

[Cha]

9. Wow.. that is so Awesome!!

[dhill926]

10. Fantastic!!!

[YOHABLO]

11. Reading things like this give me such hope for the world. For the country.

[babylonsister]

12. Decent people are outraged. It's a good thing. nt

[Sherman A1]

15. I renewed to the ACLU in December

with the monthly donation program. It's not much, but what I can do with the other groups to be considered such as Sierra Club, AARP & The Alliance for Retired Americans.

[More_Cowbell]

13. Just got my ACLU card

After donating last week when the lawyers were trying to help stranded refugees. I should have donated long ago.

I'm sure the ACLU will do great work with the money.

[Initech]

14. This is an excellent move!

[avebury]

16. K&R nt