Robbins slams Trump's immigration policies, Muslim travel ban
Los Angeles, July 1: Actor-director Tim Robbins has expressed outrage at US immigration policies and the Supreme Courts new ruling allowing President Donald Trump’s travel ban on some predominantly Muslim countries to stand.
"That Supreme Court decision will be remembered as a disgrace," Robbins said at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on Saturday, reports variety.com.
Robbins, who is getting the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema honour at the gala, recently staged with The Actors' Gang theater ensemble in a play called "The New Colossus". The play, inspired by hundreds of immigrants' stories, was staged by the plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty, professing to welcome the world's teeming masses.
At the Karlovy Vary film fest, he is screening a film he wrote and directed that celebrates working class artists, "Cradle Will Rock", and another that sends up dishonest, populist political candidates, "Bob Roberts".
He said he is still surprised at how accurate "Bob Roberts" turned out to be.
Asked whether his outspoken beliefs on progressive causes have harmed his career, the actor-director said he wasn't sure. But, he added, if he didn't speak up when he encountered injustice, "I don't know that I would like myself very much. To know something and to not say anything, to me, is a betrayal of what a democracy is."
Robbins is currently developing an original script that explores "faith versus hypocrisy".
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Three National Conference workers injured in stabbing incident at poll rally in JK's Poonch
Mendhar/Jammu, May 19: Three National Conference (NC) workers were injured when unidentified persons attacked them with knives at an election rally in Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday, officials said.
NC president Farooq Abdullah was present at the rally organised by the party in support of its Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat candidate Mian Altaf in Mendhar. The rally continued without any disruption.
Officials said there was a clash between two groups over some issue during the rally. Taking advantage of the melee, the attackers managed to escape, the officials said.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and are trying to nab the culprits, they said.
Sohail Ahmad and Yaseer Ahmad, both residents of Harni, and Mohd Imran of Kasblari village, received stab injuries and were taken to a local hospital, the officials said.
They said the condition of Sohail and Yaseer was stated to be serious and they were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Rajouri for specialised treatment, they added.
Senior NC leader Javed Ahmad Rana termed the incident a "security lapse" and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
He said it is very strange that people carrying knives managed to enter the rally venue.
"It is a serious incident and should be probed," said Rana.
Some days ago, one of the injured youth's brothers was attacked by the same group and an FIR was registered against the accused, said the NC leader, who rushed to the hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured.
