‘What they are doing is the worst of humanity’: Sundance stars support anti-ICE protest | film

The Sundance Film Festival, currently being held in Park City, Utah, witnessed a massive protest against two deadly shootings in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, along with high-profile interventions from prominent figures in the film industry.

Actress Natasha Lyonne was among those who posted on social media about the protest, dubbed “Sundancers Melt ICE,” which was called for Sunday afternoon. Organizers requested a “respectful” 10-minute event at sunset on Main Street in Park City to commemorate Rene Judd, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7, and Alex Peretti, who was killed Saturday by a Department of Homeland Security agent.

Footage of the protest published by Deadline showed participants holding up their light-up phones and chanting “Love melts the ice” as a small group of law enforcement officials looked on.

Deadline reported that “Lord of the Rings” actor Elijah Wood was among the protesters, telling the publication: “People being unlawfully shot to death in Minnesota — it’s terrible. We’re here at this film festival that’s about bringing people together; it’s about telling stories from all over the world. We’re not divided here; we’re coming together.”

Among the notable figures to make statements was actress Natalie Portman, who wore “ICE out” and “Be Good” pins while on media duties at the festival. Portman also told Deadline: “What’s happening in this country right now is absolutely horrific. What the federal government, the Trump government, Kristi Noem, ICE and ICE are doing — it’s actually the worst of humanity.”

Actress and director Olivia Wilde also commented on the shooting on Saturday, telling Variety: “I’m appalled and sickened. We can’t go another day accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being killed… And so if we can do anything here to support the movement to fire ICE, and delegitimize this incredibly criminal organization, then that’s what we should do.”