After pop start Rehanaa and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, US celebrities including football and basketball stars have extended support farmers’ protest at Delhi borders.
“Happy to share that I’ve donated $10,000 to provide medical assistance to the farmers in need in India to help save lives during these times,” twitted John Sherman “Juju” Smith-Schuster.
Sherman is a major player of the National Football League team.
“I hope we can prevent any additional life from being lost,” he said.
Smith-Schuster’s Twitter account has 1.1 million followers and his post about the donation had received nearly 50,000 likes and 24,000 retweets.
The 6,000 replies were an extension of the battle between those calling for India to be left alone and those supporting more attention for the protesting farmers.
“Should be talking about this!” wrote Kyle Kuzma of the LA Lakers, on Twitter, with a link to a CNN report on the protests.
He has 1 million followers on the social media platform. LA Lakers won the 2020 National Basketball Association championship, the team’s 17th title, tying Boston Celtics for the all-time best.
Kuzma also hashtagged the post #FarmersProtest, which was being used by celebs around the world, including the Swedish environmentalist Great Thunberg and pop star Rihanna.
As did Baron Davies, a former player of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, “Are we going to address what’s happening in India? Let my good people free!! Unfair to those who struggle, the farmers provide a way of living and they need to have a right to a way of life. Join me and let’s bring awareness. We all in this together!”
Davies has 1 million followers.
These stars join a growing number of celebrities worldwide weighing in with their support of the protesting farmers, including Meena Harris, a lawyer and niece of the Indian-origin US vice-president Kamla Harris.
She has tweeted and retweeted posts supportive of the farmers.
John Cusack, a Hollywood star, and Hasan Minhaj, a comedian of Indian descent, have also joined in, HT reported.
Cusack began tweeting in support of the farmers much before Rihanna and Thunberg turned it into an international trend.