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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 19 auguSt 2017
Citing Trump remarks, entire president’s arts council quits

NEW YORK (AP) — Another ry councils were disbanded
presidential advisory com- as members left in protest.
mittee is breaking up. Friday’s exodus heightened
Actor Kal Penn, artist Chuck the arts world’s contentious
Close and the entire mem- relationship with Trump.
bership of the President’s The president struggled to
Committee on the Arts find entertainers, many of
and the Humanities have whom backed Hillary Clin-
announced their resigna- ton in 2016, to perform at
tion. A letter dated Fri- his inaugural gala, and
day, and signed by 16 of Kennedy Center honorees
17 committee members, for lifetime achievement
cited the “false equiva- have already said they will
lence” of President Donald not attend the White House
Trump’s comments about reception in December.
last weekend’s “Unite the As president, Trump has
Right” gathering in Char- also recommended de-
lottesville, Virginia. Trump funding the National En-
has blamed “many sides” dowment for the Arts and
for the demonstrations that National Endowment for
left an anti-racism activ- the Humanities.
ist dead. The White House The arts and humanities
said Trump had already committee was established
decided against renewing In this Sept. 4, 2012 file photo, Actor Kal Penn addresses the Democratic National Convention in in 1982 under President
the advisory committee for Charlotte, N.C. Ronald Reagan and, with
budgetary reasons. Associated Press the first lady serving as hon-
“Ignoring your hateful rhet- name did not appear was it was decided that Presi- American tax dollars.” orary chair, works with both
oric would have made us Broadway director George dent Trump will not renew The statement said the government and private
complicit in your words C. Wolfe. Representatives the executive order for the committee “merely redi- agencies in promoting the
and actions,” the letter for Wolfe at Creative Arts President’s Committee on rects funding” from fed- arts through such programs
reads. “Supremacy, dis- Agency said Friday that he the Arts and the Humani- eral cultural agencies as Turnaround Arts and
crimination, and vitriol are was also resigning and that ties (PCAH), which expires that report directly to the Save America’s Treasures.
not American values. Your his name would be added later this year,” the White president, Congress and Others signing the resigna-
values are not American to the letter, which seemed House said in a statement taxpayers. “These cultural tion letter included Pulitzer
values. We must be bet- to contain a hidden po- attributed to an unnamed agencies do tremendous Prize-winning author Jhum-
ter than this. We are better litical message beyond the spokesperson. “While the work and they will con- pa Lahiri; and Vicki Ken-
than this. If this is not clear ones stated openly. The first committee has done good tinue to engage in these nedy, widow of Sen. Ed-
to you, then we call on you initials of the letter’s six main work in the past, in its cur- important projects,” the ward M. Kennedy. All were
to resign your office, too.” paragraphs spell out “r-e- rent form it simply is not a statement said. Earlier this appointed by President
The only member whose s-i-s-t.” “Earlier this month responsible way to spend week, two business adviso- Barack Obama.q

Filmmaker Michael Moore thinks humor can win the day

By MARK KENNEDY down.” While Moore’s nightly
AP Entertainment Writer He cites comedians like 90-minute onstage tirade
NEW YORK (AP) — Things Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, puts his disdain for the
may look bleak for Demo- Alec Baldwin and Stephen president front and center,
crats these days, but Mi- Colbert and notes that Me- he also tackles other hot-
chael Moore thinks he lissa McCarthy, in her “Sat- button topics, such as the
knows how they can get urday Night Live” sketches, Flint water crisis and race
back on top. played a role in the step- relations. Moore tweaks
“Humor is the non-violent ping down of Sean Spicer, each performance to ad-
weapon by which we’re Trump’s oft-beleaguered dress the headlines of the
going to help turn this press secretary. “I knew day and plans a dozen up-
around,” said the Acade- Spicer was gone the sec- coming stunts with the au-
my Award-winning director ond after that first sketch dience.
of “Bowling for Columbine” was over,” he said Thurs- “I’m blessed that I have this
who is currently starring day. Moore has been tak- forum every night by which
in his one-man Broadway ing his unhappiness to the to construct a piece of the-
show. “If you use your sense streets and promises more. ater and use the events of The Academy Award-winner, Michael Moore, staring in the
one-man show “The Terms of My Surrender,” pose for a portrait
of humor and your wit to go Earlier this week, he led the that day in the show. I’m Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, at the Belasco Theatre in New York.
against what’s going on, it audience of his show “The very lucky to be able to do States. His films have also the man in the Oval Office.
can be devastating and it Terms of My Surrender” in that,” he said. “It’s not your explored school shootings “We can come at him like a
can reach a lot of people.” a protest to Trump’s reac- typical Broadway experi- and the loss of the middle swarm of bees — take him
Moore has been doing tion to the deadly violence ence.” class. to court on everything we
his part in the anti-Donald in Charlottesville, Virginia. Moore directed and pro- With Republicans currently can take him to court on.
Trump movement by ridi- Hundreds rallied outside duced “Fahrenheit 9/11,” a in control of the House, Melissa McCarthy and Alec
culing the president, part of Trump Tower, including ce- critical look at the presiden- Senate, and White House, Baldwin — do your thing. I’ll
what he calls “an unofficial lebrities Mark Ruffalo, Olivia cy of George W. Bush, and Moore said Democrats do my thing,” he said. “We
army of comedy out there Wilde, Tom Sturridge and “Sicko,” which examines may be in “bad shape” but are without power but we
that is working to bring him Zoe Kazan. health care in the United
they still can fight against are not powerless.”q