This awards season has already been one of the most politically aware yet—from musicians speaking out at the Grammys to the SAG Awards's many political speeches, artists of all stripes have maintained the rage, using their platforms to protest and highlight important issues.

Even host Jimmy Kimmel—albeit in a lead-up to a joke about Matt Damon—alluded to the political situation. "There are millions of people watching right now," he said, "and if every one of you took a minute to reach out to one person you disagree with, someone you like and have a positive, considerate conversation, not as liberals or conservatives, but as Americans, if we would all do that, we would make America great again. We really could."

Here are the most political moments of the Oscars:

1. Ava DuVernay wears a dress by a designer from a majority Muslim country

The gorgeous grey Ashi Studio dress the 13th director wore on the red carpet was a "small sign of solidarity"—a clear reference to Donald Trump's divisive travel ban, since the designer, Mohammed Ashi, is "a designer from a majority Muslim country."

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2. 'Suicide Squad' Makeup Winner Alessandro Bertolazzi dedicates award to immigrants

When three people collect an award, it makes for short shrift on stage, but Suicide Squad makeup artist Alessandro Bertolazzi found the time to shout out immigrants and their contribution, in the night's first political moment. Bertolazzi said, "I'm an immigrant, I come from Italy. I work around the world. And this is for all the immigrants. For the immigrants."

3. 'O.J.: Made in America' director Ezra Edelman dedicates award to the victims of police violence

O.J.: Made in America might be one of the longest ever films to win an Academy Award; director Ezra Edelman's speech kept has acceptance speech much shorter and sweeter, and dedicated his award to Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown, the murder victims in the O.J. Simpson case. Edelman, the son of civil rights activist Marian Wright Edelman added, "It is also for others: the victims of police violence, police brutality, racially motivated violence and criminal injustice. This is their story, as well as Ron and Nicole's. I am honored to accept this award on all of their behalf."

4. President of the Academy Cheryl Boone Isaacs says "art has no borders"

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What stronger statement could there be about solidarity and unity than one by the president of the academy herself? In congratulating the gathered nominees and winners, Cheryl Boone Isaacs said, "You are part of a community that spans a century. Not just a Hollywood community, or an American community, but a global one, filled with storytellers, domestic and international, one that is becoming more inclusive and diverse with each passing day. I am proud to be part of the evolution of this artform and to see all the new faces among this year's nominees. Tonight is proof that art has no borders. Art has no single language, and art does not belong to a single faith."

5. Asghar Farhadi skips the ceremony in protest of Donald Trump's travel ban

The director of The Salesman had previously announced that he was planning not to attend the Academy Awards in protest at the unacceptable conditions that accompanied Trump's executive order aimed at preventing people from seven countries from entering the United States. When The Salesman won Best Foreign Film, Iranian-American engineer Anousheh Ansari delivered a statement on his behalf. "I'm sorry I'm not with you tonight," it read. "My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations whom have been disrespected by the inhuman law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S."

6. Gael García Bernal says no to Trump's wall

The actor, who was presenting Best Animated Feature Film with Hailee Steinfeld, made sure to note his opposition to Donald Trump's proposed Mexican border wall: "As a Mexican, as a Latin American, as a migrant worker, as a human being, I am against any form of wall that wants to separate us."

7. 'The White Helmets' directors ask the audience to stand up for Syria

Orlando Von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara accepted the Documentary (Short Subject) Oscar for their short The White Helmets. The White Helmets are a group of civilian volunteers who have saved more than 82,000 lives in Syria, and the directors thanked the brave members of the organization. "I invite anyone here who hears me to work on the side of life," urged Von Einsiedel, "to stop the bloodshed in Syria."

8. Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney speak out for those who feel unrepresented

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While accepting their award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Moonlight screenwriters Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney both took precious moments to acknowledge those who might be feeling alone. "All you people who feel like there's no mirror for you, the Academy has your back. The ACLU has your back. We have your back, and for the next four years, we will not forget you," said Jenkins. Mccraney, for his part, dedicated his award to "all those black and brown boys and girls and non-genderconforming [people] who don't see themselves."

From: ELLE US