Hollywood Muslim actor responds Trump ban in SAG awards ceremony

Many at last night’s Screen Actors Guild awards used their time on stage to speak out forcefully against US president's travel ban, but the strongest and most moving statement of all came from actor Mahershala Ali, who even didn't mention Trump. 

Ali, who won for his supporting role in 'Moonlight', talked about what happens when we persecute people, and he called our differences, particularly those of faith, “minutiae” that should not keep us apart.

“My mother is an ordained minister,” he said. “I’m a Muslim. She didn’t do backflips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years ago. But I tell you now, we put things to the side. I’m able to see her, she’s able to see me, we love each other, the love has grown. That stuff is minutiae. It’s not that important.”

Ali, born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore, grew up in Oakland. He converted to Islam after a visit to a mosque.

"I just had this really strong response where this prayer is resonating in my body, and I’m, like, crying,” he said. “I woke up a week later, and I get up and I go, ‘I gotta go to the mosque.’ Long story short, I converted that day.”

FM/RSH