Hollywood mega-agency UTA is throwing its support behind Wednesday’s “Day Without a Woman” strike, a follow-up protest to the anti-Donald Trump Women’s March on Washington held the day after his presidential inauguration.
“We consider it vital for UTA to be a part of the global dialogue about gender equity and underscore its importance,” UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer said in a statement, Variety reports. “Women play a critical role in the workforce and are essential members of the UTA family, and we fully support this event and encourage women across the agency to mark the day.”
Female employees at the agency will reportedly be encouraged to attend a day-long lineup of speakers at an offsite location. Speakers expected to participate reportedly include Planned Parenthood’s Katie Danziger and Cathy Shulman of Women in Film.
The leftist Women’s March activists took to social media last month to announce this week’s “general strike.”
Organizers have previously called for the “mobilization” of women to “take to the streets” and launch a “new wave of militant feminist struggle.”
Meanwhile, the “Day Without a Woman” organizers have faced fierce backlash following reports that the event is being organized in part by convicted former Palestinian terrorist Rasmea Odeh.
“On the heels of our United Voices rally, it was a very natural decision to stand up for, and with, our own female employees,” Suzette Ramirez-Carr, UTA’s Global Head of Human Resources, said in a statement. “Every woman will have the freedom to spend the day as she sees fit–with the full support of her male colleagues.”
UTA’s participation in Wednesday’s nationwide protest is in line with the Hollywood agency’s promise to ratchet up its political engagement.
Last month, UTA hosted a rally in support of refugees at its Los Angeles office in lieu of its annual Oscar party. The agency also announced plans to donate $250,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union to support its efforts to oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration and national security policies.
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