At the Oscars, so many winners seized their moments in the spotlight to make bold statements during their acceptance speeches. Among them were Citizenfour’s Lauren Poitras on protecting whistle-blowers, Still Alice’s Julianne Moore on bringing visibility to Alzheimer’s patients and Boyhood’s Patricia Arquette in fighting for equal pay. The musicians of the original song winner “Glory” from Selma, Common and John Legend each took turns stressing the lasting, international significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic march. Referring to an onstage replica of the Alabama Edmund Pettus Bridge, Common said in his speech, “The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from the South Side of Chicago dreaming of a better life to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression, to the people in Hong Kong protesting for democracy.”
