Forest Whitaker (left) signs autographs during his visit to Cleveland State to campaign for Barack Obama. Photo by Christina Sochacky.
Hollywood comes to CSU
By Christina Sochacky
Oscar winning actor Forest Whitaker, best known for his roles in Bird, The Crying Game and The Last King of Scotland, made a surprise visit to Cleveland State University on March 4 to campaign for Barack Obama.
Whitaker has been on the campaign trail with Obama before the Iowa caucus and continued the campaign in Washington, Alabama and Texas.
"I feel that college campuses are important places of learning and it is important to the college community to be involved in this primary election. College students are the ones that are going to change things in the future," said Whitaker. "Everyone can make a difference and the youth of this country are the people that can take a stance on their own future."
Whitaker said that he is campaigning for Obama because he felt that he would change many things from healthcare to environment, to the war in Iraq.
"We need more people like Senator Obama to stand up for themselves and for what they believe in," said Whitaker. "Obama has a great ability to empower others and that is the most important thing to me."
The actor has been to seven countries over the past year and he said he feels that citizens in those countries have negative views toward America.
"This is not only America's election; it is the world's election. It is us being able to connect with the rest of the world and try to figure out solutions to problems," said Whitaker.
"Obama is trying to bring a new force to this country and a new way of thinking for this country. People are now taking responsibility for our future. When people step out into the world and do something, things will change. I am a person too, and I care about the future of America," said Whitaker.
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