Actor and director George Clooney used his acceptance speech at the Film at Lincoln Center's Chaplin award ceremony in New York to condemn the recent shooting in Washington DC and call for national unity. Clooney, who received the award recognizing significant contributions to cinema, made a plea against hatred, corruption, cruelty, and violence.
Clooney's Remarks on the Shooting
Speaking at the event on Monday, Clooney said: "I disagree with everything that this administration stands for, but there's no place for the kind of violence we saw two nights ago in Washington DC. Nor is there room for this kind of violence in Minnesota with Alex Pretti or Renee Good."
A Call for Unity
Clooney continued: "It seems to me there's a struggle that has to be won against hatred and corruption and cruelty and violence. It's a struggle for the very soul of this republic because to foment hate and violence is to inherit the wind … The question is simply, what are we, as citizens of this great country, to do? And it is that answer in all of us, left, right and centre, to build a more perfect union, heal our wounds and begin to truly make America great again."
Previous Criticism of Trump Administration
Clooney's intervention follows his earlier criticism of President Donald Trump's threat against Iran, where Trump said "a whole civilisation will die tonight." In April, Clooney spoke to students at an event organized by the Clooney Foundation for Justice, stating: "Some say Donald Trump is fine. But if anyone says he wants to end a civilisation, that's a war crime. You can still support the conservative point of view but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it."
The Chaplin award is presented annually by Film at Lincoln Center to honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to cinema. Clooney's acceptance speech highlighted his ongoing engagement with political issues and his call for a more united and peaceful America.
