In January, as tensions in Minneapolis mounted amidst increased raids from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, some of Hollywood’s most famous figures gathered at the Golden Globes dressed to the nines to promote their latest projects.
But in one red-carpet interview with Kevin Ortega-Rojas, actor Mark Ruffalo said that he found it difficult to “pretend anymore” when it comes to political violence.
“I’m not feeling so great. We have a woman, Renee Good, who was murdered last week,” he told Ortega-Rojas. He then derided ICE agents, or “literal stormtroopers,” as he called them, for “running around terrorizing people.”
On February 22, Ruffalo shared a Guardian article on X titled: “DoJ cases against protesters keep collapsing as officers’ lies are exposed in court.”
“Abolish ICE and start over,” he said. “They are polluted culture of lies, violence and impunity. Rotten to the very core and HUGE WASTE OF MONEY. Tear it down and start again.”
As an actor, Ruffalo has never shied away from using his platform to amplify causes closest to him, from social justice movements and reproductive rights to the threats of Big Oil and climate change.
Even as he juggles an ever-evolving film and television career — most recently in “Poor Things,” “Mickey 17,” and HBO’s “Task” — Ruffalo has always ensured that his activism is at the forefront of his work.
This year, he attended “No Kings” protests in the face of authoritarian threats, campaigned for clean water rights in small towns across America, and continually called attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In September, Ruffalo joined Javier Bardem as an executive producer on the film, “All That’s Left of You,” which follows a Palestinian teen as they are displaced in 1948.
“’All That’s Left of You’ is an epic, deeply human film that spans decades … it reminds us that even in the face of unimaginable loss, our way forward lies in empathy, in finding meaning in grief and in choosing humanity over vengeance,” Ruffalo said in a statement.
The drama is Jordan's official selection for the 98th Academy Awards and made the shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category.
“Cherien Dabis and her remarkable cast have created something timeless and essential, telling not only the story of the Palestinian people, but the universal story of all who have endured oppression, displacement and violence,” Ruffalo said.
“This film offers another possibility: the chance to move toward collective healing and a more just and peaceful future. I’m honored to join as an executive producer at such a vital time.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2025 Helpers Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image via Gage Skidmore.
