Meaning behind Oscar pin worn by Javier Bardem he first wore 23 years ago
Attending the 98th Academy Awards tonight (15 March), Javier Bardem sported a 'No a la Guerra' badge on the red carpet.
Alongside a pin supporting Palestine, the Spanish actor's protest pin translates to 'No to war'.
He made this message clear in his opening remarks as he presented the Oscar for Best International Feature alongside Priyanka Chopra, saying: "No to war, and free Palestine."
The 57-year-old received a huge round of applause for this from the celebrity-filled audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, as the US conflict with Iran continues as well as following the intervention in conflicts between Israel and Palestine.
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Bardem originally wore the same 'No a la Guerra' patch back in 2003 to protest 'the illegal war of Iraq'. This time, he wears it the condemn the current war in Iran.
"I'm wearing a pin that I used in 2003 with the Iraq war," he said to reporters on the red carpet, "which was an illegal war. And we are here, 23 years after, with another illegal war [led] by Trump and Netanyahu, and creating a lot of damage and innocent people being killed and bombed."
He added that his second badge is for a 'Palestine symbol of resistance'. The pin features a drawing of Handala which is a character created by Palestinian newspaper cartoonist Naji al-Ali back in 1969.
Earlier in the awards season, Bardem spoke to Variety of his passion for the movement.
“Here I am today, denouncing the genocide in Gaza,” Bardem said. “I am talking about the IAGS, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, who study thoroughly genocide and has declared it is a genocide. That’s why we ask for a commercial and diplomatic blockade and also sanctions on Israel to stop the genocide. Free Palestine.”
At this year's Oscars, many celebrities have also sported red pins featuring a white dove, the official pin of Artists4Ceasefire.
This is a group of over 500 actors and creatives, including Bardem, who have called for a permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, the release of all hostages, and urgent humanitarian aid to civilians.
the collective also includes the likes of Ben Affleck, Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh, Jennifer Lopez, Andrew Garfield, and Bradley Cooper.
Star of The Voice of Hind Rajab, Saja Kilani, explained on the red carpet: "This pin is a collaboration with an artist Shepard Fairey, it’s Artists4Ceasefire and we’re demanding a permanent ceasefire.
“There is no ceasefire happening right now, there are bombings happening to this day, destruction, displacements all over the world in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Venezuela.”
Jess Battison