NEW YORK – In the final days before the U.S. election, celebrities from Kerry Washington to Billie Jean King and Danai Gurira are urging Americans to vote. Here are some of the free, nonpartisan efforts:
— Stars like Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler, Mark Ruffalo, Dua Lipa, Vic Mensa, Uzo Aduba, Mandy Moore, Russell Westbrook, Jack Black and Common are backing a virtual rally on Saturday called “Vote With Us.” The three-hour event will stream at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT on www.votewith.us and simulcast across YouTube. “March For Our Lives” activists Emma González and David Hogg will also attend.
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— The hourlong “Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy” will be hosted by Alicia Keys, America Ferrera and Kerry Washington. There will be appearances by Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, Cobie Smulders, Coldplay, Condoleezza Rice, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, John Kasich, Kelly Clarkson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Natalie Portman, Shaquille O’Neal, Tan France, Wilmer Valderrama, and performances by Keys, Dan + Shay, Offset and Shawn Mendes. It’s on CBS and CBS All Access on Oct. 29 at 9 p.m.-10 p.m. ET/PT.
— The theater world has it’s own push with “Act Out: Vote 2020,” a night of music and short monologues. It’s being led by playwright and “The Walking Dead” star Danai Gurira, Tony Award-winning director Stephen Daldry and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner playwright Lynn Nottage. There will be performances by Yvette Nicole Brown, Ryan J. Haddad, Brian Tyree Henry, Lloyd Knight, Sandra Oh and Ephraim Skyes. The event will be available to stream for free on Oct. 29 at 9 p.m. ET and then live on YouTube until Nov. 2.
— The NFL's voting campaign includes Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley. There's also an “Latinos Vote” extension campaign with NFL legends and celebrities encouraging the Latino community to vote that includes Victor Cuz, Roberto Garza and Wilmer Valderrama.
— Theater producer Dale Mott and composer Nolan Williams Jr. have tapped their contacts to create a rousing musical video to encourage voter participation. “I Have A Right To Vote” video features “Hamilton” original cast member Christopher Jackson, tennis great Billie Jean King, entertainer Billy Porter, chef Carla Hall and others reciting the words of voting rights icons including John Lewis, Frederick Douglass and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
— Singer Demi Lovato, actor Halle Berry and Olympic figure skating star Adam Rippon are sending voice messages to LGBTQ voters and allies in the battleground states of Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania about early voting, voting deadlines and the issues at stake in this election. It's part of a push by GLAAD.
— Even Donald Duck is championing voters. The musical animated short “Everybody Gets a Vote” debuts Oct. 25 on Disney Junior YouTube and DisneyNOW and Nov. 1 on Disney Junior. It's designed to encourage kids aged 2-7 to develop positive attitudes about themselves and as a member of a community. In the video, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mira, Vampirina and baby Kermit determine that a vote is the fairest way to choose a playtime game.
— Jason Alexander, Mayim Bialik, Yvette Nicole Brown, Tim Daly and other actors put on chicken costumes for a new ad urging people to vote. The public service announcement is paid for by the nonprofit entertainment advocacy group The Creative Coalition. The message: “One vote could make the difference between a chicken or a fox guarding our hen house.”
— Virgin Hotels, Sir Richard Branson’s lifestyle hotel brand, has launched a “Don’t Sleep on Voting” campaign in partnership with The Source. The social media based campaign will roll out daily video messages on Instagram from the likes of rapper, singer and record producer Vic Mensa, singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope and comedian and actor Felonious Munk. Influencers were encouraged to create a video in their own, personal style to ensure a powerful call-to-action.
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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits