Pedro Pascal's Powerful Message Echoes Our Values Are's Chilean Roots

In a moving declaration at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, actor Pedro Pascal spoke openly about his identity as a Chilean refugee and delivered a powerful call to resist fear and oppression. His message resonates deeply with the Our Values Are project, which shares Chilean connections through its founder's experience growing up under the same dictatorship that forced Pascal's family to flee.

During a press conference for his film Eddington, Pascal reflected on his family's journey of seeking asylum in Denmark before ultimately settling in the United States when he was just nine months old. "I'm an immigrant. My parents are refugees from Chile. We fled a dictatorship, and I was privileged enough to grow up in the US after asylum in Denmark... I stand by those protections," Pascal stated with conviction.¹

The actor's powerful stance against authoritarianism culminated in his declaration: "F— the people that try to make you scared. And fight back. And don't let them win." He emphasized the importance of continuing to tell stories and express oneself despite political intimidation, encouraging artists and the public alike to resist such tactics.

"F— the people that try to make you scared. And fight back. And don't let them win." Pedro Pascal

What makes Pascal's message particularly meaningful to the Our Values Are initiative is the shared Chilean heritage and understanding of life under dictatorship. While Pascal's family sought refuge abroad, Our Values Are founder grew up during Chile's dictatorship, experiencing firsthand how visible symbols of resistance played a crucial role in maintaining hope and dignity during oppressive times.

This connection illustrates why visual declarations of values matter so deeply. Just as Chilean protesters used art, music, and symbols to resist the Pinochet regime, the Our Values Are image provides businesses a way to visibly stand for equality, respect, and kindness in today's increasingly divided society.

Pascal's emphasis on continuing to express oneself despite fear aligns perfectly with the Our Values Are mission of making core human values visible when they're being overshadowed by divisive voices. His reminder that we must "keep fighting to be who you are" reinforces why displaying values of inclusion and respect remains vital in both physical and digital spaces.

"keep fighting to be who you are" Pedro Pascal

The actor's call to resistance through creative expression and steadfast values mirrors the "resistance with joy" philosophy that inspires the Our Values Are project – the understanding that the most sustainable movements for change are those that embed resistance within positive, affirming expressions of what we stand for.

As Pascal continues to use his platform to advocate for vulnerable communities, his voice joins the chorus of those working to ensure that values like "No Human Is Illegal" and "All People Are Equal" remain visible and celebrated, even in challenging times.

Get the Our Values Are image → Display it on your website → Amplify your values!

GET THE OUR VALUES ARE IMAGE SET

References

¹ The Guardian. (2025, May 17). 'Fight back and don't let them win': Actor Pedro Pascal decries Trump's attacks on artists. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/17/fight-back-and-dont-let-them-win-actor-pedro-pascal-decries-trumps-attacks-on-artists