Dev Patel hits out at Trump's 'horrible and divisive' Muslim ban at Screen Actors Guild Awards
Star of Slumdog Millionnaire and Lion among host of celebrities to denounce new President's travel restrictions
![Dev Patel arrives at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday January 29 2017 in Los Angeles](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2017/01/30/07/dev-patel.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
Actor Dev Patel branded Donald Trump's controversial travel ban “horrible” and “divisive” as he attended the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.
The Slumdog Millionaire star said he found it “utterly devastating” that the US president had decided to ban nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering America.
Speaking on the red carpet, Patel - who was nominated for best supporting actor - said: “I just flew in from India a day ago. When I heard the news it was utterly devastating.
“The first thing that came into my head was the children who arrive on these shores with hope in their hearts.
“It's horrible. It's divisive.
“I hope something changes and something can be done because it really is terrible.”
British actor Riz Ahmed urged people to “make your voices heard” and revealed he knew people hit by the US travel ban, which affects nationals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“Now is not a time for escapism,” the Rogue One star said on the red carpet.
“If people care about the future of this country and the world... it's time to make your voices heard.”
Ahmed, who was nominated for best actor in a limited TV series for The Night Of, said he had launched a campaign to help young Syrian refugees.
Singer John Legend also criticised Mr Trump's refugee ban as he arrived at the SAG Awards.
He said: “Everything our government does is being done in our name.
“I believe our country should be open and inclusive, particularly for refugees fleeing war-torn areas.
“They are fleeing terrorism, they are fleeing war, they are fleeing genocide.”
Big Bang Theory actor Simon Helberg held a sign which read “refugees welcome” as he walked the red carpet.
He was joined by wife Jocelyn Towne who had the words “let them in” written across her chest.
PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments