Mahershala Ali delivers moving speech about acceptance at SAG Awards

Several actors used their podiums at Sunday’s SAG Awards to comment on the current political climate and President Trump’s  immigration ban from numerous Muslim-majority countries. While accepting his statue for outstanding performance by a male in a supporting role, Moonlight actor Mahershala Ali, who is a Muslim, made a call for people to look past their differences.

“I think what I’ve learned from working on Moonlight is we see what happens when you persecute people,” the House of Cards actor began. “They fold into themselves, and what I was so grateful about in having the opportunity to play Juan was playing a gentleman. I saw a young man folding into himself as a result of the persecution of his community and taking that opportunity to uplift him and tell him that he mattered, that he was okay, and accept him. And I hope that we do a better job of that.

He closed his speech by wishing “peace and blessings” for the audience.

Mahershala Ali of @moonlightmov #sagawards pic.twitter.com/q9txL6fW8R

— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) January 30, 2017