Bill Murray Commends Parkland School Activists on Their Ability to Enact Social Change
The comedic actor recently spoke out in favor of March For Our Lives
Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Politics News Bill Murray
On Thursday, actor Bill Murray became the latest celebrity to publicly endorse the student-led March For Our Lives movement. Sparked in response to government officials lack of action after the school massacre in Parkland, Fla., the March For Our Lives agenda has been picking up multiple celebrity endorsements in the past few weeks.
Last month, Jimmy Fallon voiced his support for the Parkland activists, promising on his Late Night show to march alongside the protesters on March 24 in Washington, D.C. Hamilton creator and Broadway star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, recorded a charity song in support of the movement earlier this month, adding his name to the list of performances at the upcoming event, alongside Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Common.
Now, Murray comes out to voice his opinion in support of the movement via a op-ed for NBC News THINK. Murray starts off the piece by saying, “We are living in interesting times, and people are becoming politically activated who weren’t previously.” He then goes on to commend the Parkland activist for their idealism, calling it “their most powerful asset in their fight to bring change.”
“Idealism is a voice that’s inside of you; it’s your conscience.” The actor writes. “Everyone has it. Sometimes it’s just a whisper, but, in some people, it’s a shout.”
Murray compares the ongoing movement to the student-led protests that came about in the 1960s as a response to the Vietnam war. To Murray, it was the students’ voices, at that time, that ended the war and brought about social change in a time where there was little action on the political spectrum.
” … it really was the students that began the end of the Vietnam War.” Murray writes. “It was the students who made all the news, and that noise started, and then the movement wouldn’t stop. I think, maybe, this noise that those students in Florida are making — here, today — will do something of the same nature.”
Meanwhile, the March For Our Lives protest is getting ready to take place this Saturday, March 24 in Washington, D.C. Read Murray’s full opinion piece here and visit the movement’s website here. Continue to follow Paste for future coverage of this ongoing social event.