On February 26, as President Joe Biden was seated for a “softball” interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, 51 protesters with the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace were arrested — among them, actor Hunter Schafer. The action, occupying the lobby of 30 Rock in New York City, was the day before the Michigan primary, in which more than 100,000 people voted “uncommitted” to protest Biden’s policies in Gaza as the reported Palestinian death toll nears 30,000 and the existing humanitarian crisis worsens.
According to Jewish Voice for Peace, some 100 protesters joined the action in the building where Biden was being interviewed by Meyers. The Euphoria star, 25, can be seen in photos wearing a “Ceasefire Now” shirt, seated on the floor alongside other organizers and protesters in front of banners reading, “Jews to Biden: Stop Arming Genocide” and “The Whole World Is Watching.” Others wore shirts reading, “Not in Our Name.”
“Jewish Voice for Peace can confirm that Hunter Schafer attended the Jewish Voice Peace disruption inside the 30 Rock lobby, held while President Biden was in the building for his interview with Seth Meyers on Monday afternoon,” said JVP in a statement shared with Teen Vogue. “Hunter was arrested at the protest, along with 50 other people. We commend her commitment to Palestinian freedom and to a future of justice for everyone.”
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An image of a handcuffed Schafer being removed by police began circulating on social media on February 27, leading to a frenzy of media coverage. Given the treatment in Hollywood toward other stars who have spoken out on the situation in Gaza, like Melissa Barrera, online commenters began worrying that Schafer, who recently starred in A24’s Cuckoo and The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, would be cut from her role on Euphoria, which is in production of its third season.
Schafer is a longtime advocate on behalf of political causes. As a teen, she was a frequent Teen Vogue contributor, writing an op-ed about the need to fight bathroom bans after joining a lawsuit against her then home state of North Carolina over HB 2.
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