A group of Hollywood figures, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Mark Ruffalo, Molly Ringwald, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Bradley Whitford, released a joint Fourth of July video with author Timothy Snyder that appeared aimed at challenging President Donald Trump as the country marked its 250th birthday.
The video was described as a “call against tyranny” and was released as Trump led America 250 events and addressed a large crowd gathered for the national celebration. The timing made the message clear enough: while Trump used the holiday to celebrate the country’s founding and speak to supporters, the actors and Snyder used the same moment to warn Americans against what they see as the dangers of authoritarian politics.
According to The Wrap, the 10-minute video opens with Parker framing the anniversary as more than a simple celebration of the past.
“Two-hundred-fifty years ago, a revolutionary idea was born, not that freedom was guaranteed, not that democracy would take care of itself, but that ordinary people could govern themselves,” Parker says in the clip.
She then asks what each generation is willing to do when the country demands something from its citizens.
The video was published Saturday morning on Snyder’s Substack. In it, the participants read aloud from Snyder’s 2017 book, “On Tyranny,” which lays out 20 lessons drawn from the history of authoritarian movements in the 20th century. The book has been embraced by many Trump critics since its publication, especially by those who argue that democratic institutions are more fragile than Americans often assume.
Snyder introduced the video by tying the Independence Day anniversary to the idea of rebellion and renewal.
“To celebrate a rebellion is to know that, from a flawed world, we can make new things,” Snyder wrote, according to The Wrap. “We can hold on, we can find each other, and not just imagine but create a much better America. It is a special 250th — it is ours.”
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The video included several familiar entertainment and literary names beyond Parker, Ruffalo, Ringwald, Ralph, and Whitford. Lisa Rinna, Margaret Atwood, Tony Goldwyn, and Leslie Odom Jr. were also among those who took part in the reading.
Snyder referred to the participants as his “friends of freedom.”
A statement accompanying the video, cited by The Hill, said the project was meant to encourage Americans to “refuse complacency.” The line appeared to be directed at the political climate surrounding Trump and at those who believe the country’s democratic norms are under strain.
The release also highlighted the widening divide between Trump and many figures in the entertainment industry. Hollywood activists have often framed their opposition to him in sweeping terms, arguing that his rhetoric and governing style pose a threat to democratic traditions. Trump and his allies, meanwhile, have frequently dismissed such criticism as another example of wealthy celebrities lecturing the rest of the country.
For critics of the video, the effort was likely to come across as another self-serious political statement from celebrities who are far removed from the everyday concerns of most Americans. For supporters, it was a reminder that the anniversary of independence can also be used to question whether the country is living up to the ideals it claims to celebrate.
