*The* Legal Accessory Of The Season

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The ACLU is upping its cultural relevance. Sure, we all know the organization is on the front lines of protecting civil rights, and in the gilded age of Trump that is more important than ever. But now they are having an Oscar moment.

The blue ribbon emblazoned with “ACLU” made the rounds on the red carpet. Perhaps most prominently on the cherry red dress of Oscar nominee, Ruth Negga. Her stylist shouted out the ribbon as the accessory she was most proud of (see, e.g., the IG post above). The political statement was particularly poignant as Negga was nominated for her performance as ACLU client Mildred Loving, the woman behind the landmark Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia (for those of you who were drunk throughout law school).

In an interview with People, Negga noted that she supported the ACLU because of her “basic love of human rights.”

Also making a statement in support of the ACLU was Lin-Manuel Miranda in his failing effort to secure the last piece of his EGOT for the music in Moana. He brought his mom with him to the ceremony <awww>, and she shared his political statement.

"I'm wearing an ACLU ribbon because they're fighting incredible fights right now for American ideals." –@lin_manuel #Oscars #Oscars2017 pic.twitter.com/pypW1erdQU

— ACLU (@ACLU) February 26, 2017

Speaking of Miranda’s missed EGOT, Benj Pasek, one of the songwriters that picked up an Oscar for “City of Stars” from La La Land, also wore an ACLU ribbon.

Model Karlie Kloss stuck the ribbon on her hip in an eye-catching statement.

Barry Jenkins, the director of the nominated movie Moonlight, was also seen sporting the blue ribbon, though he reportedly lost it somewhere on the red carpet.

https://twitter.com/Jewelshepard/status/835994116034981888

But he’d found it by the time he and Tarell Alvin McCraney picked up their Oscar for best adapted screenplay. Jenkins also directly shouted out the ACLU in his acceptance speech.

And right there, in the middle of that Dawson’s Creek reunion, there’s an ACLU ribbon on Busy Phillips.

Producer extraordinaire Harvey Weinstein, director Miranda July, and actress Rosemarie DeWitt also got in on the ACLU action.

Brie Larson apparently didn’t want to ruin the lines of her dress with any additional adornments, but wanted to show her support. Cue her IG feed, which features the blue ACLU ribbon, a Planned Parenthood pin, and a GLAAD pin.

Proud to support @ACLU, @PPFA, and @glaad all day, everyday. #istandwithpp #standwithaclu #weresist pic.twitter.com/IJYRgsRadB

— Brie Larson (@brielarson) February 26, 2017

There were also other political statements on the red carpet. Academy Award winner for best actress, Emma Stone, had the gold Planned Parenthood pin on her gold gown for a subtle statement.

 

Stone changed for the Vanity Fair afterparty and added a blue ribbon to complete her look.

Emma Stone switched into a new look for the #VanityFairParty and added the ACLU blue ribbon to her outfit! https://t.co/3KD82vASW2

— JustJared.com (@JustJared) February 27, 2017

And there’s Sting, with the GLAAD pin on his lapel.

Nominee for best documentary, Ana DuVernay, also made a statement. Her Oscar gown was from a designer, Ashi Studio, from a Muslim majority country, Lebanon.

https://twitter.com/ava/status/836024248887984128

And the ending of this post can’t be as exciting as the bizarre, Steve Harvey-esque ending of the Oscars telecast, when Moonlight, and ACLU supporter Barry Jenkins, picked up the Best Picture Oscar. So just gawk at the stunned looks on the faces of the Moonlight cast when they finally got their award.

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Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).