Harrasment of Maria Ressa: Madonna takes notice, too

Screenshot from TIME Studios

MANILA, Philippines—The harrassment by the Philippine government of journalist Maria Ressa continued to draw international attention, now including from pop superstar Madonna.

Ressa, executive editor of news website Rappler, and Filipino journalists protesting curtailment of rights under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte were given play in Madonna’s new song, under TIME Studios, “I Rise.”

The song from Madonna’s 14th and latest studio album “Madame X” pays tribute to the resilience of people around the world fighting for their rights.

It showed a clip of Ressa, who was ordered arrested twice by the Duterte administration, being interviewed by reporters. Clips of press freedom rallies in the Philippines were also there.

Other footage included the survivors of Parkland shooting, LGBTQ supporters, women’s rights protesters, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman’s testimony about sexual abuse.

Ressa was named as one of TIME’s Persons of the Year in 2018. She was also on the list of TIME’s 100’s most influential people in the world. (Editor: Tony Bergonia)

Screenshot from TIME Studios

READ: Ressa, Khashoggi, other journalists named Time Person of the Year 

READ: Maria Ressa in Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World