Bryan Cranston Delivers Speech at Actors' Strike in Times Square

Actor Bryan Cranston delivered defiant remarks in New York’s Times Square on Tuesday, July 25, as striking writers and actors rallied in the area.

Footage recorded by Angela Belcamino shows the actor on Tuesday afternoon.

“Listen to us when we tell you – we will not have our jobs taken away and given to robots,” Cranston said to the crowd. “We will not allow you to take away our right to work and earn a decent living,” he continued.

“We are union, through and through, all the way to the end,” he added.

Actors including Jessica Chastain, Brendan Fraser, and Christian Slater were also among those who gathered in Times Square on Tuesday, according to reports. Tuesday marked the 11th day of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike, and nearly four months since the beginning of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.

Both unions are fighting for image, earnings, and job security protections regarding the use of artificial intelligence technology, as well as health care and retirement guarantees.

SAG-AFTRA and WGA members were joined in solidarity by members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), the New York City Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO), and the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Credit: Angela Belcamino via Storyful

Video transcript

BRYAN CRANSTON: And beyond that, to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots.

[CROWD CHEERING]

We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity. We are Union through and through all the way to the end. Thank you. God bless you. Stay together. We will win this fight.

[CROWD CHEERING]

--and beyond that to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity. We are Union through and through all the way to the end. Thank you. God bless you. Stay together. We will win this fight.

[CROWD CHEERING]

God bless you.