Brandi Carlile dropped out from the lineup of the upcoming Fortune’s Most Powerful Summit in Washington, D.C. But why? Read more and find out!
Brandi Carlile Says She Can’t Support the Lineup
Although the singer admitted that dropping out of such a special appearance wasn’t her style, she expressed that she “absolutely cannot support” the inclusion of former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen in the event’s lineup.
Carlile was scheduled to perform at the Fortune’s Most Powerful Women event on Tuesday, the 22nd of October. She announced her decision not to play on the event come Monday morning, the 21st of October.
After quoting her Grammy award-winning song “The Joke,” Carlile posted her decision on her official Twitter page.
With respect and gratitude. pic.twitter.com/rhKpRYf6gF
— Brandi Carlile (@brandicarlile) October 21, 2019
“I believe in showing up and lending my voice. Joining the power. However, I don’t think that human rights violators and merit-based abusers of displaced people should be given a platform to ‘reimagine’ history. Ever.”
Nielsen, who resigned from her Homeland Security position in April, was in charge of enacting President Donald Trump’s current “zero-tolerance” policy of separating immigrant families at the border.
Former Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and author, filmmaker, and activist Dream Hampton also pulled out of Fortune’s event on Friday (Oct. 18).
Carlile continues on to explain, noting that she “believes in showing up and lending my voice. Joining the power,” and is “beyond honored” to have been asked to perform at the event, but this particular circumstance calls for a different tactic.
“At the end of the day, I’m a mother with a ridiculous birthright and a heart for displaced people … The atrocity of family separation at our Southern border needs to go down in history as one of the United States of America’s most merciless acts. [Nielsen’s] access to power is righteously over,” Carlile continues. “I forgive her. I mean no disrespect. I wish her well and hope that she comes to understand the error in her part of this shameful policy.”
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