Javier Bardem says ‘free Palestine’ on Oscars stage

Javier Bardem got straight to the point at the 98th Academy Awards.

Before presenting the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, Javier Bardem uttered six words: “No to war and free Palestine.”

It was the most overtly political statement made at this Oscars ceremony so far, one that began on the red carpet for Bardem.

Bardem is sporting two notable pins: A large panel with bloody text reading “No a la guerra” (Spanish for “no to war”), and a circular pin reading “Palestine,” along with the image of young boy, Handala, a character created in 1969 by cartoonist Naji al-Ali who has become a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

On the red carpet, Bardem told the Associated Press that the “No a la guerra” pin is the same one he wore to the Oscars in 2003 to protest “the illegal Iraq war.”

“[The Oscars] is a great opportunity to say things like ‘no to war, no to this illegal war that [is] creating so many deaths,'” he said.