Calvin Harris, Demi Lovato And Others Sign Open Letter About Gun Control
Calvin Harris and Demi Lovato know their voices carry more weight than the average person, and they are using that power to fight for a cause they believe in.
Over 150 musicians and industry executives from Paul McCartney to Zayn Malik signed a letter published in Billboard magazine's newest issue, urging Congress to "stop gun violence now."
The signatures are featured on the magazine's cover, demanding change.
The letter, drafted by Billboard editors, highlights two major demands of Congress: Require background checks for gun sales and ban those on the terror watch list from purchasing guns.
These demands are in response to the mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub on June 12, which killed 49 innocent people.
In a note from Billboard before the letter, the editors explain their horror at the terrible shooting and the process of reaching out to nearly 200 artists to support them in a campaign for stricter gun control.
The editors wrote,
Within minutes, Joan Jett was the first to sign on. Lady Gaga shortly followed. Within hours, and then in a matter of just a few days, nearly 200 top artists and executives—pop stars (including Grimmie's friend Selena Gomez), rappers, rock gods, legends, Broadway heroes, even two Beatles and Yoko Ono -- lent their voices to the chorus of Americans looking to our political leaders for change.
This letter comes only days after Republicans in the Senate blocked several important gun control measures from passing.
See a complete list of artists who signed below:
Adam Lambert
Adam Levin (X Ambassadors)
Akiva Schaeffer
Alan Gilbert (NY Philharmonic)
Alanis Morissette
Alex Pall (The Chainsmokers)
Alicia Keys
Andrew Bird
Andy Samberg
Angel Coleman
Barbra Streisand
Beck
Bill Kreutzmann (Dead & Company)
Billy Joel
Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket)
Bob Weir (Dead & Company)
Bonnie Raitt
Brad Delson (Linkin Park)
Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)
Britney Spears
Butch Walker
Calvin Harris
Cam
Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket)
Carole King
Casey Harris (X Ambassadors)
Charlie Puth
Cher
Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
Christina Aguilera
Christina Perri
Conan O'Brien
Courtney Love
Cyndi Lauper
Demi Lovato
Diplo
Drew Taggart (The Chainsmokers)
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Elle King
Ellen DeGeneres
Elvis Costello
Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks)
Eric Hutchinson
Fher Olvera (Maná)
Glenn Kotche (Wilco)
Gregory Porter
Halsey
Iggy Pop
Jack Antonoff
Jackson Browne
James Corden
Jason Mraz
Jean Michel Jarre
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Company)
Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
Jennifer Lopez
Jim James (My Morning Jacket)
Joan Jett
Joe Hahn (Linkin Park)
Joe Jonas
John Mellencamp
John Stirratt (Wilco)
Jorge Hernandez (Los Tigres del Norte)
Josh Groban
Julia Michaels
Justin Tranter
Kaskade
Katy Perry
K.D. Lang
Kelly Rowland
Kesha
Kid Cudi
Lady Gaga
Lecrae
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Macklemore
Mark Ronson
Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks)
Matisyahu
Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam)
Meghan Trainor
Melissa Etheridge
Michael Bublé
Michael Stipe
Mickey Hart (Dead & Company)
Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco)
Mike D
Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park)
My Morning Jacket
Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks)
Nate Reuss
Nick Jonas
Nicky Jam
Pat Monahan
Pat Sansone (Wilco)
Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket)
Paul McCartney
Pete Wentz
Peter Tork
Prince Royce
Pusha T
Questlove
Ricky Martin
Ringo Starr
Rivers Cuomo
Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park)
Rob Thomas
Rosanne Cash
Rufus Wainwright
Ryan Leslie
Ryan Lewis
Sam Harris (X Ambassadors)
Sara Bareilles
Selena Gomez
Shakira
Sia
Stevie Nicks
Sting
Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
Talib Kweli
Terence Blanchard
Thom Yorke
Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket)
Tony Bennett
Tori Amos
Trent Reznor
Troye Sivan
Vic Mensa
Wayne Coyne
Yoko Ono
Zayn Malik
Citations: Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and More Musicians Implore Congress to "Stop Gun Violence Now" in Open Letter (E! News), AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS: STOP GUN VIOLENCE NOW (Billboard)
