Evangeline Lilly — known for her role in “Lost” and as “Wasp” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — is calling on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lend an ear to the Freedom Convoy protesters, rather than condemn them as “terrorists.”
“I want to speak to you today about your current approach and treatment of our fellow Canadians who are protesting your federal vaccine mandates,” the Canadian actor said in a five-minute video posted to the Bridge City News Instagram account.
She argued Trudeau should take his pro-government mandate arguments directly to the leaders of the Freedom Convoy, two of whom have been arrested.
“If you are so convinced of your own reasons for the mandates, sit down and walk the leaders of a group of 2.3 million protesters across the country who represent many millions more across the nation, and explain it to them,” Lilly said. “And ask them to listen with open hearts and minds and then reciprocate.”
“Listen to what they have to say with a mind open to hearing things that might go against the ideas you are entrenched in,” the celebrity continued. “Maybe there are solutions that could bring Canadians together right now that you have not considered.”
Lilly, 42, explained to Trudeau that unity comes when people of differing views collaborate on solutions, noting coalition isn’t attained “by vilifying those who say there is a better way.”
“What we need right now from our leadership is unification, and that requires being willing to see, recognize, and hear from the people sitting out in the cold at your door,” she said, adding that a “true leader” would come face-to-face with his or her critics.
“When you became prime minister of Canada, you did not just become the prime minister of the people who agreed with you,” the Hollywood star explained further. “You became prime minister of every Canadian. You don’t get to pick and choose who you will care about. It is your civic duty to care about all Canadians. Even those who you disagree with.”
Lilly’s comments for the prime minister come on the heels of his decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, granting the national government the powers to seize cars and trucks and even freeze protesters’ personal bank accounts, which has reportedly already happened to some demonstrators. The Act, which has never before been invoked, is intended to be deployed to deal with threats of “sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.”
The Hollywood star is condemning Trudeau for such an escalation.
“Protesting something that deeply, deeply concerns you in our society is not terrorism, it is the civic duty of every Canadian,” she said. “It is our job as the people to hold our leadership accountable. If they are infringing on our inalienable rights if we suspect that they have become corrupted or compromised in any way, or simply if we think they’re wrong in monumental decisions they are making on behalf of their people.”
Lilly rebuked the prime minister for treating protesters “like terrorists without ever speaking to their leadership.”
Anything else?
The “Ant-Man” star also condemned members of the media for their portrayal of the protests and people’s opposition to vaccination mandates in general.
She said there have been “no riots” because “this is not a violent protest.”
Instead, Lilly explained, “There is only a mass of deeply concerned citizens at your [Trudeau] doorstep who you refuse to acknowledge for what they are — your people.”
“Don’t let the press brainwash you into division and hatred,” she added. “The antidote to prejudice is knowledge.”
As Faithwire previously reported, Lilly participated in a protest in late January condemning vaccination mandates.
“I believe nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will … under any threat whatsoever,” she wrote in an Instagram post published on the heels of the protest in Washington, D.C. “This is not the way.”
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