All eyes are on the Oscars tonight, and many are using the opportunity to advocate for a ceasefire and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid ongoing protests.
As the stars hit the red carpet, a large crowd gathered outside the Dolby Theatre to protest in support of Palestine, causing a traffic jam near the venue.
Here’s why celebs might sport red buttons on the Oscars red carpet
Some stars, like Poor Thing’s Ramy Youssef, sported small red buttons with an out-stretched hand and black heart, the symbol for Artists for Ceasefire, a campaign that began with a letter to Joe Biden demanding a ceasefire. Others, including Anatomy of a Fall‘s Swann Arlaud and Milo Machado Graner, wore the Palestinian flag on his lapel.
As the night progresses, acceptance speeches will provide another opportunity to call attention to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the humanitarian crisis that threatens widespread famine in the region.
Stars who wore their support for Palestine
Billie Eilish, Barbie
Credit: Getty Images: JC Olivera / Stringer
Eilish wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things
Credit: Getty Images: Michael Blackshire / Contributor
Ruffalo wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
FINNEAS, Barbie
Credit: Getty Images: WWD / Contributor
FINNEAS wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
Ava DuVernay
Credit: Getty Images: JC Olivera / Stringer
DuVernay wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
Ramy Youssef, Poor Things
Credit: Getty Images: Marleen Moise / Staff
Youssef wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
Riz Ahmed
Credit: Getty Images: Mike Coppola / Staff
Ahmed wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
Mahershala Ali
Credit: Getty Images: Mike Coppola / Staff
Ali wore an Artists For Ceasefire pin.
Swann Arlaud, Anatomy of a Fall
Credit: Getty Images: Mike Coppola / Staff
Arlaud wore a Palestian flag pin.
Milo Machado-Graner, Anatomy of a Fall
Credit: Getty Images: Mike Coppola / Staff
Machado-Graner wore a Palestian flag pin.
Kaouther Ben Hania, Four Daughters
Credit: Getty Images: Mike Coppola / Staff
Ben Hania wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin.
Nadim Cheikhrouha, Four Daughters
Credit: Getty Images: FREDERIC J. BROWN / Contributor
Nadim Cheikhrouha wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin.
Eugene Lee Yang, Nimona
Credit: Getty Images: Getty Images: JC Olivera / Stringer
Lee Yang wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin.
Misan Harriman, The After
Credit: Getty Images: Getty Images: Gilbert Flores / Contributor
Harriman wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin.
Quannah Chasinghorse
Credit: Getty Images: JC Olivera / Stringer
Chasinghorse wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin.
Daniel Scheinert
Credit: Getty Images: Michael Buckner / Contributor
Scheinert wore an Artists for Ceasefire pin.
The pro-Palestine protest that nearly shut down the Oscars red carpet
Hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors marched outside Dolby Theater calling for a permanent ceasefire.
Organized by Film Workers for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace LA, Adalah Justice Project, and SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire, the protest began with a march through Hollywood and blocked traffic. In a joint Instagram post the groups wrote, “We will not be distracted by the entertainment industry. We WILL continue to call for a permanent ceasefire and Palestinian liberation.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.