Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortensen Join Open Letter…

Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortensen Join Open Letter Urging Support for Ukraine Funding

Viggo Mortensen, Rosario Dawson, Sean Penn (Credit: Creative Commons)

Rosario Dawson and Viggo Mortensen are among 35 artists, activists and scholars who published an open letter calling for the U.S. Congress to continue funding Ukraine in it's ongoing war against Russia. The letter was published by CNN through it's Opinion section and includes other prominent signatories like Sean Penn, Barbra Streisand and chef José Andrés, who was recently dominating the news after 7 aid workers from his World Central Kitchen charity were killed in Gaza.

"The Ukrainian armed forces are defending basic American interests", the letter explains. "They are doing things that Americans cannot do for themselves. By absorbing the entire Russian attack, they are making other wars in Europe impossible."

The letter goes on to express that Americans "are letting the Ukrainians down. It has been more than 470 days since Congress passed legislation to support Ukraine. That is most of the time since Russia invaded in February 2022. During the period of our inaction, Russia has reconstituted its army. It is preparing a new offensive, testing Ukraine across the front and illegally using CS gas to drive Ukrainian soldiers from their trenches."

The letter ends on a plea to Congressmen and women to take action:

Ukrainians are giving us a chance. A chance for Americans to do the right thing, for them, for us, for decency, for humanity. Ukraine can protect itself and bring stability around the world. If we allow Ukraine to lose, though, we are inviting catastrophe for them, and catastrophe for ourselves. Congress returned to session this week. Time is short and new dangers can arrive very quickly. Together we call upon Congress to do the right thing – right now. Support Ukraine.

Here's the full list of signatories:

J.J. Abrams, filmmaker

José Andrés, chef and activist

Gabrielle Carteris, actor and trade union leader

Mona Charen, journalist

Misha Collins, actor

Rosario Dawson, actor

Felicia Day, actor and writer

Doug Fears, former homeland security adviser

Jonathan Safran Foer, novelist

Francis Fukuyama, political scientist

Mark Hamill, actor