Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Celebs put weight behind gun-control campaign
LOS ANGELES: Oprah Winfrey calls them “warriors of the light”, actor Bill Murray says the Florida gun-control campaigners remind him of the students who rallied to end the Vietnam War, and George Clooney has donated $500 000 (R5.9 million) to their cause.
The teen organisers of today’s nationwide “March for Our Lives,” aimed at toughening gun laws to help stop school shootings in the US, have won kudos and cash from dozens of celebrities.
The April 2 cover of Time magazine will feature students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida who organised rallies, walkouts and challenged lawmakers since the February 14 mass shooting at the school that left 17 pupils and staff dead.
Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Demi Lovato and Common were due to be among performers at today’s main march in Washington DC, while Trainwreck actress Amy Schumer and pop star Charlie Puth are expected to headline a march in Los Angeles.
“So inspired by the incredible students behind #MarchForOurLives. Can’t wait to join them in DC to perform and show my support,” Cyrus tweeted this week.
“Proud of these kids,” Justin Bieber wrote on Twitter.
Winfrey, Clooney, director Steven Spielberg and Holly- wood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg have donated an aggregate of $2m to the movement. Clooney and his wife, Amal, said they would march with the students.
Winfrey said: “They are the new young warriors of the light” while Groundhog Day actor Murray compared them to the young protesters of the 1960s who helped bring an end to the Vietnam War.
Youth- oriented television channel MTV has enlisted sup- port through social media and video messages from the likes of Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Halsey and talk show host Jimmy Fallon.
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt are also due to perform.
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted: “These kids… see a need for change in our world, and they’re doing something about it.” – Reuters/African News Agency (ANA)