Jennifer Lawerence got candid about why she’s endorsing Kamala Harris in this year’s presidential election against Donald Trump.
“Abortion is literally on the ballot,” the Oscar-winning actress told People. “I’m voting for Kamala Harris because I think she’s an amazing candidate, and I know that she will do whatever she can to protect reproductive rights. That’s the most important thing, is to not let somebody into the White House who is going to ban abortion.”
Lawrence has been vocal about politics and equal rights for women in the past, previously noting she “can’t fuck with people who aren’t political anymore,” because the state of the country is “too dire” and “politics are killing people.”
When she speaks out about politics, the No Hard Feelings star explained that online trolls often like to point out that she didn’t finish school, so they allege she’s not educated enough to be discussing things like that. However, she pointed out that she gets most of her education from storytelling, which is why she wanted to educate other people with the films she produces under her banner, Excellent Cadaver.
Through her production company, Lawrence is working on two upcoming documentaries that shine a light on women’s rights: Bread and Roses, directed by Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani and co-produced by Malala Yousafzai; and Zurawski v Texas, helmed by Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault, and co-produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.
The latter doc details the high-stakes post-Roe v. Wade legal case in which 20 women sued Texas state because they said its restrictive laws against abortions prevented them from receiving medically necessary procedures. It follows Center for Reproductive Rights attorney Molly Duane and three plaintiffs, including Amanda Zurawski, who was denied an abortion for her nonviable pregnancy and nearly died from the complications. She also suffered permanent damage that caused her to not be able to carry a baby in the future.
The Don’t Look Up actress said the women depicted in Zurawski v Texas, “who have gone through what no human being should ever, ever endure,” help represent the human side of politics. “They put it on display so that it doesn’t happen to other women,” she added of the film, which is being backed by dating app Bumble. “They’re not thinking about their suffering. They’re using their suffering to help other people, and it’s heroic.”
“Women are dying,” she continued, adding that the doc can “enlighten people’s idea of what abortion is and why certain people need abortions — and why it’s so important to keep lawmakers out of families and out of people’s doctors’ offices … These laws are made by random white men, and they’re not made by health care providers.”
Lawrence shared that she hopes both Zurawski v Texas and Bread and Roses can inspire audiences to contact their leaders, donate to important causes or volunteer in one way or another. But, ultimately, she emphasized, “Take action by voting. The most important thing that we can do right now is just vote.”
