Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, is advocating for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to acknowledge the victims of the United States’ nuclear testing program, coinciding with the nomination of the film “Oppenheimer” for 13 Academy Awards.
In a letter made public by Politico, Hawley called on the Academy to dedicate a segment of the March 10th awards ceremony to honor these victims. He emphasized the heightened public interest in J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life and the continued relevance of his legacy, which he expects to be a prominent topic at the 96th Academy Awards.
Hawley pointed out that the film “Oppenheimer” overlooks the narrative of Americans who continue to suffer from the health and financial repercussions of the country’s nuclear research. He argued that these victims, who have borne the brunt of the government’s oversight in nuclear testing and the mishandling of nuclear waste, deserve to have their voices heard, particularly on such a significant platform as the Academy Awards.
The biographical film centers on J. Robert Oppenheimer, widely regarded as the father of the atomic bomb, and highlights his role in establishing the United States as a major nuclear power in the modern era.
