Evan Rachel Wood chooses to #Resist on Westworld Finale Day

Evan Rachel Wood. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO Acquired via HBO PR Medium Page.
Evan Rachel Wood. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO Acquired via HBO PR Medium Page. /
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In a move that would make her alter ego Dolores Abernathy quite proud, Evan Rachel Wood is taking action and bringing light to the heartrending stories at our border.

For the past few weeks, our world has felt more Handmaid’s Tale than Westworld. A government ripping children from weeping mothers’ arms? Abominable and unacceptable. But certain individuals have mobilized to help shed light on the dire situation that exists for thousands of children and families at our southern border. And, unsurprisingly, Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood is one of them.

Wood has a robust history of advocacy. Previously this year, she testified in front of Congress (!) regarding rape and domestic violence. In addition, she has been vocal about abuse in her past. By bravely sharing her story, she has certainly helped countless women – and men – recognize patterns of co-dependent or violent behavior in their partner.

Now, Wood is lending her voice to a different cause.  According to People Magazine, she visited the border this week, even bringing supplies to a few detention centers housing children. Wood also participated in a group hunger strike and prayer circle organized by Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy’s daughter. Starting on June 23rd, the event is scheduled to span 24 days, with a new set of participants fasting each day.

Wood chose not to live tweet the Westworld finale this evening, instead opting to use her platform to disseminate information about her own form of peaceful protest against our government’s inhumane policies at the border. With over 400k followers, the actress has access to quite the mesh network of online individuals, and she dropped some knowledge on all of them in the minutes before Westworld Season 2 concluded.

Of course, there were some haters on board. Because internet, amiright? But Wood responded to them with class and grace. In doing so, she pulled a playing card from justice-hungry Dolores Abernathy’s deck, turning the tables on hypocrisy and hate with a string of questions designed to turn the respondent’s mind inward like a delicate piece of origami.

Of course, internet haters gonna hate, but Evan Rachel Wood joins the ranks of celebrities using their influence as an opportunity to speak about causes that matter. A few weeks back, Amy Poehler hijacked a light interview with the Hollywood Reporter in order to raise issues ranging from gun control to pollution, and Eagles’ player Malcolm Jenkins took the opportunity to send a powerful message via cue cards during a locker room press conference. Access to these platforms is reserved for few, including celebrities, and the idea of taking back that time to talk about something that truly and immediately matters is catching.

Related Story: Westworld and Suicide: Patching a Hole in Broken Code

Wood’s fast is likely over by now, but the message is clear. Won’t we fight? Won’t we battle against injustice in any way we can? And how do we make sure this is a world still fighting for? Westworld knows that these are the age-old concepts that keep us going even when everything seems lost.

‘Westworld’ Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available for streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW.