Salma Hayek launched a demonstration at the Cannes Film Festival this week in support of the kidnapped Nigerian school girls taken at the hands of Boko Haram. She carried at #BringBackOurGirls sign on the festival’s red carpet as she promoted the premiere of her film The Prophet.
She is latest in a string of celebrities to show support for the 267 girls who were taken by these terrorists last month. Hayek’s political move was considered to be “most unusual” by many at the film festival, including its director of communications Marie-Pierre Hauville.
“It’s rare,” Hauville said during an interview. “But clearly this is happening all over the world and was a personal impulse.”
The director, however, did not seem thrilled with the notion since Cannes is noted for its adherence to tradition and its rather strict dress code. Salma Hayek likely knew that would be the reception to her actions, but no doubt realized that this was far more important than haute couture and film premiere. Kudos to her.
Salma Hayek at Cannes. #BringBackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/ndTlrG8bRY
— Nkem Onwudiwe ♓ (@NkemOnwudiwe) May 18, 2014
U.S. Intelligence officials were in Paris this weekend. They met with African leaders for a summit on how to safely rescue the school girls from their captors and how to battle the Islamic extremist group.
African officials agreed to wage what both sides are calling a “total war” on the militants and they approved an action plan to stop them. Boko Haram is also blamed for more than 2,000 deaths this year.
“Boko Haram is no longer a local terrorist group. It is operating clearly as an al Qaeda operation. It is an al Qaeda of West Africa,” Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said following the summit in Paris.
Salma Hayek stood up for something far more important than what was going on at the Cannes Film Festival on that event’s red carpet. Instead she used the festival as a forum to speak out against an atrocity that is presently endangering nearly three hundred children. Do you think she will be scrutinized before attending the event in Cannes in coming years or will it simply blow over as a political stunt?
Hopefully even more celebrities will follow in the actress’s footsteps and make #BringBackOurGirls a mission on everyone’s behalf–all around the world.
What do you think of Salma Hayek’s bold move?
Image via Wikimedia Commons
