Stranger Things took home the honor for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at tonight’s SAG Awards, but David Harbour deserves another award all together for his impassioned acceptance speech.
The actor, who plays Chief Jim Hopper on the hit Netflix series, stepped to the mic to deliver thanks on behalf of his co-stars. But once he got through the standard acknowledgements, he turned his attention to recent political events, with particular focus on President Trump’s damaging immigration policies. His hands shaking as he read from a piece of paper, he segued into a call to arms for his fellow actors to “go deeper and through our art battle against fear, self-centeredness, and exclusivity of our predominantly narcissistic culture.”
“As we act in the continuing narrative of Stranger Things, we 1983 Midwesterners will repel bullies,” Harbour shouted from the podium. “We will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no home. We will get past the lies. We will hunt monsters! And when we are at a loss amidst the hypocrisy and the casual violence of certain individuals and institutions, we will, as per Chief Hopper, punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak and the disenfranchised and the marginalized! And we will do it all with soul, with heart, and with joy. We thank you for this responsibility.”
Winona Ryder’s reactions through the entire thing pretty much said it all. Watch the powerful speech in its entirety above.
