LeBron James
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The NBA all-star has spoken loudly and proudly in support of Black Lives Matter. James has been outspoken on social media about the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and more, and in late August, hetook to Twitter to express the importance of justice after JacobBlake was shot in the back by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which spurred more protests."F**K THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT," the basketball pro tweeted at the time. Earlier in the week, along with many of his Los Angeles Lakers teammates, James wore a BLM shirt while honoring the late Kobe Bryant on Aug. 24, 2020. James is alsohelpingspearhead a multimillion-dollar effort to recruit poll workers ahead of theelectionin November throughMore Than a Vote.While James is one of the best basketball players in NBA history, it's his support and actions when it comes to causes that are important to him -- namely education, racism and police brutality -- that may very well be his greatest legacy.
Sophia Bush
The One Tree Hill alum has dedicated much of her lifeto pursuing social justice. The actress and activistregularly speaks up on social media, pushing for police reforms, fair elections and equal rights. A harsh critic of President Donald Trump, Bushencourages her followers to vote on a nearly daily basis, and shealsohosts her own podcast, Work in Progress, where she interviews luminaries and fellow activists like Gloria Steinem,Glennon Doyle, Cecile Richards and Dr. Melina Abdullah.
John Legend
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Both the EGOT winner and his wife are not shy about denouncing President Trump, including calling him "racist" ahead of the 2016 presidential election. In addition to donating thousands of dollars each year --including $5,000 to the DNC in 2017 and $72K to the ACLU on Donald Trump's birthday in 2018 --Legend is extremely vocal about his political views on Twitter. On night two of the Democratic National Convention in August 2020, he backed Joe Biden for the presidential nominee and sang "Never Break" off his latest album, Bigger Love. "The song is about love, hope and resilience, and I think we could all use some of that right now 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾," the father of two tweeted after his DNC performance.
Kerry Washington
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TheLittle Fires Everywhere starshot to fame as a political “fixer" onScandal,and in real life, Washington doesn't shy away fromusing her voice to bring change. Shehas promoted numerous social justice and political causes, such as voter registration,gun control andLGBTQrights, and she has also proudly worked with the Black Lives Matter, #MeToo and Time's Up movements. Her career has also reflected her hope for change. The mom of twohas chosen roles that addresssocial justice issues, such astheBroadway playAmerican Son,whichbrought attention to police brutality and thekillingsof Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and Philando Castile and was adapted into a Netflix series. She also takes the opportunity to share her views with wide audiences. At the start of the 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards,Washington was featured in the "I am an actor" segment and used the opportunity to discuss political activism. "A lot of people are saying right now that actors should keep our mouths shut when it comes to politics," she said. "But the truth is, no matter what, actors are activists because we embody the humanity and worth of all people. This union helps me to do that. I am Kerry Washington, and I am an actor."
Michael B. Jordan
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TheBlack Pantherstaris so committed to improving diversity in Hollywood that headded a diversity clause to all of his projects. His breakout role was inFruitvale Station, a film chronicling the life and death of a 22-year-old father who was killed by police on New Year’s Day in 2009, and his activism has been evident ever since.In June 2020, Jordan joined protestors ina massive BLM march in Los Angeles, where he challenged Hollywood to improve diversity.
Jane Fonda
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This isn't just a 2020 thing -- Fonda has always been one of the most politically active celebs. Well known for protesting the Vietnam War, the activist has continued to use her platform to push for social change. She launched "Fire Drill Fridays," her civil disobedience campaign that demandsurgent action to battle climate change, in the fall of 2019 -- which included three arrestsin Washington., D.C., in October -- that continued into 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S. The last one took place in Wilmington, California, a port town suburb of Los Angeles, on March 6.
Billie Eilish
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She's only 18, but Eilish is wise beyond her years. She lenther voice to theDemocratic National Convention,debuting the first live performance of her single "My Future" on night three of the DNC, where she also spoke candidly againstPresident Donald Trump. "You don't need me to tell you things are a mess. Donald Trump is destroying our country and everything we care about," Eilish said ahead of her performance. "We need leaders who will solve problems like climate change and COVID, not deny them. Leaders who will fight against systemic racism and inequality. That starts by voting for someone who understands how much is at stake, someone who's building a team that shares our values. It starts with voting against Donald Trump and for Joe Biden. Silence is not an option, and we cannot sit this one out."Eilish, who is old enough to vote for the first time in 2020, has previously made her political views clear andspoken out about what shebelieves in. In a passionate Instagram post in May 2020, she fiercelysupported the Black Lives Matter movementand condemned those saying "All lives matter." Heading into the election, the Los Angeles nativehas teamed up with the nonprofit HeadCount to help educate her millions of fans on how to register to vote and participate in the election.
Yara Shahidi
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Last year, the Grown-ish star said she'd "put my career on the line to talk politics," but that's something Shahidi has always made clear. One ofGen Z's most prominent, wokevoices, the actress regularly pushes for inclusivity, conscious conversation and politicalawareness. "Here we stand on the precipice of progress and possibility," she mused on Instagram, citing her recent op-ed for PORTER Magazine. "My generation proudly takes ownership of our identities and revels in our intersections. So why, at 20, do I feel as though we are looking for a home?” She also took part in Black Lives Matterprotests in Los Angeles and works with a number of organizations to promote change. In 2018, she explained to The Hollywood Reporterthat going through the 2016 election, "where myself and many of my peers were unable to vote," is really what led her to become such an outspoken crusader and help launch Eighteen x 18, which encouraged her peers to register to vote. "The thing people don't fully understand about my generation is just how multifaceted we are. Oftentimes, people like to oversimplify what [we] believe in or do, whether that's, 'Oh, you're on your phones all the time,' or, 'Oh, you're very self-centered,' but what I've seen from my peers is that we're socially engaged and curious about the world," she explained.
Demi Lovato
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Throughout the summer of 2020, Lovato regularly posted about the Black Lives Matter movement and paid tribute to Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old black woman who was fatally shot by police in her Louisville, Kentucky, home in March. On whatwould have been Taylor's 27th birthday in June and on Lovato's own birthday in August, the "Anyone" singer continued to advocate for justice and shared calls to action with her fans. She also spoke up about fighting for trans rights during the virtual 2020 GLAAD Awardsand she teamed up withPropeller to auction off a collection of items from her closet for fans who pledge to vote."I'm both heartbroken and inspired by recent events in our country. I won't be silent or stand still. Join me in taking action forracial justice,COVID-19relief and getting ready to vote. Because we need change more than ever before," Lovato said in a video posted to her Instagram. "The only way to win is to takeaction. Sign petitions, donate, educate yourself, learn to educate those around you.The more actions you take, the more chances you have to win, so please start now."
Taylor Swift
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The pop star wasknown for staying mum about politics -- and then Donald Trump got elected as president. Starting in 2018, shespoke upabout voting for Democrats in the Tennessee election that year andencouraged others to voteand speak out against “fear-based extremism.”She alsoreleased the political anthem"Only the Young," from her documentary,Miss Americana, in January, and recently slammed Trump's handling of the USPS ahead of the 2020 election.
Katy Perry
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The "Smile" singer proudly and loudly supported Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, mocked President Trump and then-British Prime Minister Theresa May in her 2017 BRIT Awards performance and got political while singing "Chained to the Rhythm" at the 2017 GRAMMYs, among other political proclamations. In June 2020, she co-headlined Rock the Vote'sDemocracy Summer 2020 event; the movement encourages people to get to the polls in November. The pop star also loves an excuse to dress up in sparkly patriotic gear, and how can we blame her?
Debra Messing
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The Will & Grace star began a new chapter in 2020, launching the podcastThe Dissenters, a weekly show where Messing and her co-host, I Am a Voter founder Mandana Dayani, interview people they've dubbed "dissenters," a term borrowed from Supreme Court justiceRuth Bader Ginsburg’s infamous "I dissent"line."I am more fulfilled by this than I ever imagined I would be,"Messingtold ET in August 2020. “I feel so grateful and I do feel good about putting out something positive and uplifting and empowering during a time where everyone is really suffering and struggling."Messing's interests in politics kicked into a different gear amid the 2016 election. Since then, she'sbecomeone of President Donald Trump's most vocal criticsonline. She's even been mean-tweeted by the commander in chief!
Kendrick Sampson
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TheInsecureactor has gone to battle in the war against racism and police brutality. Followingthe deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Sampson was beaten witha baton by police andshot with rubber bullets during a Black Lives Matter march last month, but that hasn't deterred him from being a vocal proponent of defunding police budgets. Sampson, who isalso the founder of the non-partisan grass roots social justice groupBLD PWR, penned an open letter calling out Hollywood for lacking a “true commitment” to inclusionand for contributing to the “criminalization of Black people, the misrepresentation of the legal system, and the glorification of police corruption and violence.”
Meghan Markle
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She may be a British royal now, but Markle is forever an American girl. She is also one who has always been politically active. In 2020, she and husband Prince Harry moved from England to California, and the former Suits star has been making her voice heard now that she's back in the States. In July, shespoke to Marie Claire on the importance of voting, and reiterated her stance one month later, teaming up with Michelle Obama's When We All Vote toparticipatein the United State of Women's virtual "Couch Party.""When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who will come after us," she expressed. "Because that is what community is all about and that's specifically what this election is all about." TheDuchess of Sussex also encouraged young women to "keep pushing" for change at the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit.
Chrissy Teigen
The pregnant model has never shied away from sharing her opinions and feelings, and that includes in the world of politics. Teigen has regularly decried Trump's policies, and as of late, she's happily shared her support for Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. "Fell in love with both Kamala and Doug this day. cannot wait to vote for Momala," she captioned this throwback pic in August 2020.