Freddie Mercury, Albert Einstein, and Gloria Estefan all have one thing in common: They're refugees.
In a new video released by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), celebrities like Mandy Patinkin, Lena Headey, and Keegan-Michael Key read letters to prominent figures who were refugees as a way of highlighting just how important they are for society.
"The story you needed to tell, and that the world needed to hear, might never have been written," says Patinkin to Elie Wiesel. "Millions of hearts and minds might never have been opened or challenged."
June 20 is World Refugee Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the obstacles refugees face. Last year, the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees revealed that there were 68.5 million people displaced from their homes in 2017 alone, a record high.
The video is part of a broader campaign from the IRC meant to reveal the humanity behind that statistic and thank refugees for everything they've done and will continue to do. Hopefully, the video serves to educate viewers on why it's so important to welcome them.
The story was updated to reflect the correct spelling of Lena Headey's name.
Topics Activism Social Good
