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Nearly 60,000 people gathered in Central Park’s Great Lawn on Saturday for the 7th Annual Global Citizen Festival, featuring performances from Janelle Monae, John Legend, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Janet Jackson and The Weeknd.
The day-long event, hosted by husband and wife Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, encouraged attendees to become active in social issues, including reducing the amount of single-use plastic, eliminating bail bond policies that unfairly target minorities and the poor and providing every child with access to quality education.
If you couldn’t make it to New York or didn’t get a chance to stream it online, here’s a list of the top moments from the 2018 Global Citizen Festival.
Janelle Monae Stands in Solidarity with Sexual Assault Survivors
Referencing Thursday’s testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford stating her alleged claims of sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Janelle Monae said, “this past week was a brutal, brutal week for a lot of us women.”
Monae proclaimed her solidarity with sexual assault survivors and called on fans and attendees to do the same. “So today, I’m standing here with my sisters on this stage, and with you. And, we want to send a message loud and clear to survivors here and all over the world; let’s make sure that they know that these 60,000 global citizens right here in this audience have got your back.”
Security Barrier Falls Causing Major Panic at the Concert
There was a brief panic at the festival after a security barrier fell Saturday evening, police said.
Video showed some upset fans hugging each other after the scare at around 7:30 p.m. A New York Police Department official said on stage that no shots were fired.
“There were NO SHOTS FIRED at #GlobalCitizenFestival. The sound was a fallen barrier,” the NYPD said on Twitter.
An NBC reporter at the event described the scene as “total panic in the crowd.” People climbed benches and knocked over barricades, and some people were seen crying and trying to call friends and other loved ones.
“All we saw was a mass of people running,” one woman said on MSNBC, which is airing the annual event. “Like a wave of people coming in this direction … my daughter’s screaming at me to run.”
Large-scale public venues have been under increased security concerns after shootings at public events. Some people jumped over barricades amid the scare, according to reports from the scene. The scare at the Saturday’s festival and concert occurred days before the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas in which 58 people were killed. The gunman in that shooting killed himself.
Sen. Jeff Flake Makes an Appearance After a Newsworthy Week
Sen. Jeff Flake, R- Ariz., made an appearance alongside Sen. Chris Coons D-Del., after a newsworthy week of hearings from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. On Friday, Flake called for the Senate floor vote to be delayed one week so the FBI could look into sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh.
“It was our personal relationship that made the politics of compromise that prevailed yesterday possible,”
Flake and Coons talked about their time spent volunteering in Africa as young men.
“As senators, we’ve had the opportunity to develop a deep and genuine friendship traveling and working in Africa on the issues we most care about” Coons said to the crowd.
The two urged bipartisan support for foreign aid and promoting democracy.
“Thanks to all of you global citizens who have contacted us this year,” Flake said. “You’ve texted, you’ve called, you’ve touched our hearts.”
Flake also mentioned his encounter Friday with Ana Maria Archil, a sexual assault survivor who confronted him in an elevator about his decision to recommend Kavanaugh to the full Senate for confirmation to the Supreme Court.
“Feel free to join me in an elevator anytime,” he said.
Will Smith Bungee Jumps from A Helicopter on his 50th Birthday to raise money for “Education Cannot Wait”
Actor, activist and social media star—one of his newest titles, Will Smith celebrated his milestone by bungee jumping from a helicopter to raise money for the “Education Cannot Wait” charity.
Smith chose to raise money for the charity because it “services probably 75 million plus children around the world, specifically in difficult, sometimes war-torn areas where children are being denied education for whatever reason.”
As the actor turned 50, he shared his personal commitment to be a citizen of the world. “Where I am in my life, everything has to be a contribution. I want all of my actions to be a contribution to the human family.”
Cardi B Keeps It Real and Urges Millenials Who Can Vote to Exercise Their Right
After her first performance since having her child in July, Cardi B spoke on the importance of bringing change to local communities by voting. “I was going to read from the teleprompter, but I’m [going] to say it how I want to say it” the rapper known for being candid said on stage. “It is our right to vote and nobody can take that right from us… we need to vote. Especially us, the millenials, under 25 and over 18.”
Speaking on her disappointment in the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, she admitted her lack of participation, but pledged to be more involved going forward. “Last election, everybody took it as a joke, even me, I’m not even going to front. Because I thought ‘man that person ain’t going to win, and look where we at now.”
Robert DeNiro Urges People to Vote
Actor, producer, director and social activist Robert DeNiro, alongside actress Rachel Brosnahan and comedian Kal Penn, took the stage to plead for attendees to use their right to vote.
“You’re at this amazing concert because you took your responsibility as global citizens seriously… Now, we are asking you to take your responsibility as U.S. citizens seriously by voting.”
Reminding the crowd of the power of voting, DeNiro said “voting is how we hire and how we fire our leaders… Guess what? They’re not our bosses, we’re their bosses.”