Rise Up: Celebrity Protesters!

Nick Cannon to Jesse Williams, stars who take on issues.

Celebs on the Front Lines - It may seem that stars will only rise up when they win an award or get involved in a paparazzi feud, but many celebs use their fame to bring attention to racial, civil and environmental causes. Considering these scary political times, here are just a few stars who have lent their voices to important issues.(Photo from left: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for BET, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation)

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Celebs on the Front Lines - It may seem that stars will only rise up when they win an award or get involved in a paparazzi feud, but many celebs use their fame to bring attention to racial, civil and environmental causes. Considering these scary political times, here are just a few stars who have lent their voices to important issues.(Photo from left: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for BET, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation)

Photo By Photos from left: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

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Nick Cannon - Nick Cannon doesn't only talk the talk, he walks the walk as well — literally. The entrepreneur marched front and center with other Black Lives Matter protesters and even shared some words about police brutality. "“We want to be respected,” Cannon told the crowd. “We want to feel safe. We want the American Dream. You are messing with our peace of mind," he said. "We can’t operate as Americans when we can’t walk outside and feel safe. We are going to be out here for the entire convention and make sure our voices are heard."(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images) 

Naturi Naughton - Power's leading lady has been a vocal advocate for the fight against police brutality and is also a supporter of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The former 3LW star has marched in New York in the wake of the recent injustices and continues to do so even to this day. Speaking to BET.com, she said, "I think that what's happening in this country is that we're almost going in a cycle back to when it feels like my parents were coming up in college... it's not easy being a Black man, specifically, in this country."(Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)

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Naturi Naughton - Power's leading lady has been a vocal advocate for the fight against police brutality and is also a supporter of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The former 3LW star has marched in New York in the wake of the recent injustices and continues to do so even to this day. Speaking to BET.com, she said, "I think that what's happening in this country is that we're almost going in a cycle back to when it feels like my parents were coming up in college... it's not easy being a Black man, specifically, in this country."(Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)

Jesse Williams ‏@iJesseWilliams  - "But an indictment & swift justice is not to be heralded or confused w/ progress. The occasional drip of Americana is not a cup, or country."  (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Jesse Williams - This Grey's Anatomy star is known as one of the most culturally outspoken critics of recent injustices. While his passionate tweets and social media commentary about the happenings have become a staple for the movement, Williams doesn't just talk the talk — he also walks the walk... literally. He took part in the rallies and protests in Ferguson, Mo., in the wake of the murder of Michael Brown. To this day, he still speaks on the movement and how far we have to go.(Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Talib Kweli - He's not only one of music's most respected MCs, he is also an activist in his own right. In October 2014, following the unjust murder of Missouri teen Michael Brown, Kweli launched a crowdfunding campaign called the Ferguson Defense Fund to help support activists protesting in Ferguson. In a short span of time, he managed to help raise $100,000 and continues to march in hopes that there would be some change to come.(Photo: Alberto Reyes/WENN.com)

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Talib Kweli - He's not only one of music's most respected MCs, he is also an activist in his own right. In October 2014, following the unjust murder of Missouri teen Michael Brown, Kweli launched a crowdfunding campaign called the Ferguson Defense Fund to help support activists protesting in Ferguson. In a short span of time, he managed to help raise $100,000 and continues to march in hopes that there would be some change to come.(Photo: Alberto Reyes/WENN.com)

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Killer Mike - Aside from physically marching, Killer Mike uses his intellectual savviness to bring awareness to the injustices against Black men in America. The musician does it all, from providing conscious political commentary on talk shows to penning op-eds for major publications to shine a light on what it means to live as a Black man in this country. His opinion has grown to become one of the most respected in the worlds of music and activism alike.(Photo: Alli Harvey/Getty Images for Spotify)

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Killer Mike - Aside from physically marching, Killer Mike uses his intellectual savviness to bring awareness to the injustices against Black men in America. The musician does it all, from providing conscious political commentary on talk shows to penning op-eds for major publications to shine a light on what it means to live as a Black man in this country. His opinion has grown to become one of the most respected in the worlds of music and activism alike.(Photo: Alli Harvey/Getty Images for Spotify)

Keke Palmer - After the outrage over the killing of an unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., this talk show host visited the city herself. While participating in a peaceful protest, Palmer claims she was shot at with rubber bullets by police and that her mother was hit with one. Thankfully, the Palmers weren't badly hurt, but Keke made sure to share her eyewitness experience will her millions of followers.  (Photo: Via Twitter)

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Keke Palmer - After the outrage over the killing of an unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., this talk show host visited the city herself. While participating in a peaceful protest, Palmer claims she was shot at with rubber bullets by police and that her mother was hit with one. Thankfully, the Palmers weren't badly hurt, but Keke made sure to share her eyewitness experience will her millions of followers. (Photo: Via Twitter)

J. Cole - The Roc Nation artist also made a trip down to Ferguson in the wake of the tragedy to stand with the peaceful protesters and remember Michael Brown. He described the atmosphere he experienced as "a beautiful thing...everything is love." The singer also released a song called "Be Free" days after Brown's death, dedicated to every Black man murdered in America.  (Photo: cruzxctrl via Instagram)

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J. Cole - The Roc Nation artist also made a trip down to Ferguson in the wake of the tragedy to stand with the peaceful protesters and remember Michael Brown. He described the atmosphere he experienced as "a beautiful thing...everything is love." The singer also released a song called "Be Free" days after Brown's death, dedicated to every Black man murdered in America. (Photo: cruzxctrl via Instagram)

Photo By Photo: cruzxctrl via Instagram

#Ferguson - Nelly joins demonstrators in his home state, protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown as they make their voices heard  in Ferguson, Missouri. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Nelly - The civil unrest in Ferguson, Mo., really hit home for the rapper, who was raised in nearby St. Louis. Nelly spent time with protesters in Ferguson appealing for calm and telling locals, "We need to have a plan."   (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Kanye West - Never one to hold back his opinions, Kanye West got into the protest game when he paid a visit to Occupy Wall Street in 2011. While West didn't exactly raise a fist against The Man himself — in fact, he was teased for showing up at the anti-capitalist event rocking gold chains and Gucci loafers — he did spend a fair amount of time listening to the thoughts and concerns of the protesters. (Photo: Terrence Jennings/Picturegroup)

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Kanye West - Never one to hold back his opinions, Kanye West got into the protest game when he paid a visit to Occupy Wall Street in 2011. While West didn't exactly raise a fist against The Man himself — in fact, he was teased for showing up at the anti-capitalist event rocking gold chains and Gucci loafers — he did spend a fair amount of time listening to the thoughts and concerns of the protesters. (Photo: Terrence Jennings/Picturegroup)

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Russell Simmons - West's guide through the Occupy Wall Street protest was none other than someone well known for his political mind, music mogul Russell Simmons. The Def Jam founder can always be counted on to lend a powerful voice, and often millions of dollars, to important causes.  (Photo: J Ramos/ WENN.com)

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Russell Simmons - West's guide through the Occupy Wall Street protest was none other than someone well known for his political mind, music mogul Russell Simmons. The Def Jam founder can always be counted on to lend a powerful voice, and often millions of dollars, to important causes.  (Photo: J Ramos/ WENN.com)

Rosario Dawson - This gorgeous actress seems as committed to causes as she is to her acting career. In fact, several of her roles, including the Cesar Chavez biopic she co-starred in, fall in line with her political beliefs. Dawson protested against President Bush in 2004 and then against the government's anti-immigration policies at the Democratic National Convention in 2012.  (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Rosario Dawson - This gorgeous actress seems as committed to causes as she is to her acting career. In fact, several of her roles, including the Cesar Chavez biopic she co-starred in, fall in line with her political beliefs. Dawson protested against President Bush in 2004 and then against the government's anti-immigration policies at the Democratic National Convention in 2012. (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

Rosie Perez - The Do the Right Thing actress and current co-host of The View has lent her distinctive voice to a number of causes, from protesting Time Warner Cable's decision to stop carrying the arts network Ovation (Perez and others claimed the move discriminated against minorities who sought access to the arts but couldn't afford high-priced tickets to NYC events) to the US bombing range in her native Puerto Rico. Perez was even arrested at a protest for the latter. (Photo: Jude Domski/Getty Images)

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Rosie Perez - The Do the Right Thing actress and current co-host of The View has lent her distinctive voice to a number of causes, from protesting Time Warner Cable's decision to stop carrying the arts network Ovation (Perez and others claimed the move discriminated against minorities who sought access to the arts but couldn't afford high-priced tickets to NYC events) to the US bombing range in her native Puerto Rico. Perez was even arrested at a protest for the latter. (Photo: Jude Domski/Getty Images)

Beyoncé and Jay Z - Apart from their obvious friendship with the Obamas, Bey and Jay typically keep their political cards close to the vest. But even music's most private couple couldn't help but speak out after the tragic death of Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012. The powerful pair joined a protest in New York City rallying against the acquittal of Trayvon's killer George Zimmerman. More recently, in 2015, they continued their support as activists by hosting a free concert in Baltimore with music icon Prince for the memory of the slain Freddie Gray. (Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

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Beyoncé and Jay Z - Apart from their obvious friendship with the Obamas, Bey and Jay typically keep their political cards close to the vest. But even music's most private couple couldn't help but speak out after the tragic death of Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012. The powerful pair joined a protest in New York City rallying against the acquittal of Trayvon's killer George Zimmerman. More recently, in 2015, they continued their support as activists by hosting a free concert in Baltimore with music icon Prince for the memory of the slain Freddie Gray. (Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Susan Sarandon - The Oscar-winning actress has built a career on playing outspoken characters, so it's no surprise she's always quick to speak out about political or social issues as well. The self-proclaimed liberal has supported a wide variety of causes, including the 1999 protest over the police shooting of unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo in New York City. Sarandon, who was arrested along with hundreds of others outside NYPD headquarters, helped draw national attention to the injustice.  (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

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Susan Sarandon - The Oscar-winning actress has built a career on playing outspoken characters, so it's no surprise she's always quick to speak out about political or social issues as well. The self-proclaimed liberal has supported a wide variety of causes, including the 1999 protest over the police shooting of unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo in New York City. Sarandon, who was arrested along with hundreds of others outside NYPD headquarters, helped draw national attention to the injustice.  (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

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Sean Penn - So deep is his dissent for things like war and injustice that Penn often comes across as a humorless misanthrope to reporters and the public. But it's understandably hard for the actor to see past his passion for protest and admirable that he dedicates so much of his time to the causes he believes in. Arguably the one closest to Penn's heart is rebuilding Haiti, where he has spent a lot of time after the 2008 earthquake and tries hard to keep the world's attention on.  (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

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Sean Penn - So deep is his dissent for things like war and injustice that Penn often comes across as a humorless misanthrope to reporters and the public. But it's understandably hard for the actor to see past his passion for protest and admirable that he dedicates so much of his time to the causes he believes in. Arguably the one closest to Penn's heart is rebuilding Haiti, where he has spent a lot of time after the 2008 earthquake and tries hard to keep the world's attention on. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Danny Glover - The Lethal Weapon actor was arrested in 2010 at a pro-union protest in Maryland. In 2014, Glover also protested against the screening of a documentary he is featured in in Israel. The actor has taken a firm stance on a wide variety of causes, but has also drawn criticism for palling around with noted Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Danny Glover - The Lethal Weapon actor was arrested in 2010 at a pro-union protest in Maryland. In 2014, Glover also protested against the screening of a documentary he is featured in in Israel. The actor has taken a firm stance on a wide variety of causes, but has also drawn criticism for palling around with noted Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Jessica Alba - The Sin City actress is best known for her beautiful face and hot bod, but her mouth is what got her in trouble when she decided to protest the extinction of the great white shark in 2009. Alba was arrested for defacing public property when she posted a number of posters in favor of her cause in Oklahoma City.  (Photo: PacificCoastNews)

Harry Belafonte - The iconic singer and actor is a noted political activist and has even slammed other celebs for not using their fame enough to draw attention, and money, to important issues. Belafonte, who has protested everything from apartheid to the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, even wrote an album of protest songs. (Photo: Kurt Severin/Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Harry Belafonte - The iconic singer and actor is a noted political activist and has even slammed other celebs for not using their fame enough to draw attention, and money, to important issues. Belafonte, who has protested everything from apartheid to the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, even wrote an album of protest songs. (Photo: Kurt Severin/Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)