A group of wealthy Hollywood celebrities and activists marked America’s 250th anniversary by launching a video campaign encouraging Americans to oppose President Donald Trump's administration.The video, which debuted on Variety, featured dozens of celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ted Danson and Judd Apatow.During the nearly 10-minute video, they recite rules from the 2017 book "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century," written by author and historian Timothy Snyder.Toward the start of the video, Snyder warns viewers that this November's midterm elections are a "turning point" for the country, saying voters will either move in the right direction or things will get worse.MS NOW GUEST ADMITS 'GREAT TREPIDATION' ABOUT CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH, CLAIMS COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED"Today, the Republic is 250 years old.
Strange though it is for me, this book has been along with the Republic for the last 10 years.I wrote it in November of 2016," Snyder said in the clip."As I look ahead to this coming November, I see a turning point for our Republic," he added.
"A time when things could turn very well, or they could turn very ill indeed."Reading from the book and its suggestions on how a nation turns to tyranny, celebrities recited lines including "Do not obey in advance," delivered by Leslie Odom Jr., Sheryl Lee Ralph and Holland Taylor.Another, "Beware of the one-party state," was read by Isabel Allende and Lisa Rinna.Actor Mark Ruffalo, known for appearing in Marvel's "Avengers" films, explained his reason for participating in the video when speaking with Variety.
Ruffalo has long been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration.BILLY BOB THORNTON PUSHES BACK ON CELEBRITY ACTIVISM: ‘I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS’"My hope is that after this very bad and corrupt time we are living through now, we move away from a government that caters to the wealthy and powerful and focuses on the needs, desires and dreams of the...