Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, others call on SAG-AFTRA to protect pro-Palestine members from getting blacklisted

A group of prominent Hollywood actors and actors’ guild members, including Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef, Riz Ahmed, Susan Sarandon, Melissa Barrera and Cynthia Nixon, have called on the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) leadership to protect pro-Palestine members from being blacklisted for their views.

In an open letter signed by over 700 members of various entertainment unions, the actors have urged SAG-AFTRA leaders to condemn the violence against journalists and advocate for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The group’s statement expresses frustration over repeated attempts to communicate with union leadership about concerns over blacklisting and to work collaboratively on a ceasefire statement. The members claim these efforts have been ignored, prompting them to take a public stand.

SAG-AFTRA has declined to comment on these claims or the content of the letter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The letter directly addresses a previous statement issued by SAG-AFTRA on October 13 last year, which condemned “the horrific acts of aggression against the Israeli people.”

In contrast, the open letter highlights the devastation wrought upon Gaza by Israel, citing over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, 90,000 injuries, the displacement of two million people, and the targeting of journalists and their families.

The letter emphasises that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have continued to assault safe zones, schools, and hospitals, leading to a humanitarian catastrophe described by the UN as a “graveyard for children.”

The signatories demand that SAG-AFTRA leadership, including President Fran Drescher, issue a statement calling for a permanent ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, condemning violence against journalists, and protecting union members from retaliation for their pro-Palestine views.

Actor and SAG-AFTRA National MENA Committee Chair Amin El Gamal criticised the leadership for ignoring requests for dialogue and meetings, labelling the silence as a “blatant double standard.” El Gamal questioned the union’s commitment to equity and inclusion, especially when its leadership remains silent on Palestinian suffering.

Several guild members and celebrities have reported facing blacklisting, job loss, and coordinated harassment campaigns for advocating for a ceasefire.

One anonymous West Coast actor detailed receiving a barrage of hateful emails, including from well-known producers, which left them fearing for their career and family’s safety.

Riz Ahmed, Common, Busy Philipps, Richa Moorjani, Griffin Dunne, Kendrick Sampson, Indya Moore, Sara Ramirez, Amrit Kaur, Bruce Cohen, James Schamus, Lorenza Izzo, and Saul Williams are among the notable figures who signed the open letter.

According to a press release, many within SAG-AFTRA and Sister Guild Members for Ceasefire attribute the union’s lack of response to an “unsustainable top-down structure” that disregards member input.

The call for a ceasefire aligns with similar demands from global labour organisations, including the British union Equity UK, the United Auto Workers (UAW) International, and The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839).

In their letter, the union members insist on a public statement from leadership advocating for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages on both sides and the delivery of humanitarian aid.