The Global Citizen festival is taking place today on New York’s Great Lawn in Central Park.
MSNBC and NBC Universal serves as sponsors of the annual event, with Chris Hayes, Joy Reid, Ari Melber, Jacob Soboroff, Savannah Sellers co-hosting MSNBC’s coverage –including a simulcast of the event– beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
The event itself began at 4 p.m. ET.
Coming to you from NYC’s Central Park, #GlobalCitizen Festival LIVE on Twitter presented by @JNJCares https://t.co/VHbMaEXmlb
— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) September 29, 2018
NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt appeared on stage, rocking some nice shades while telling concertgoers to recycle. He also snagged an interview with guest performer John Legend for Nightly News.
WATCH: @LesterHoltNBC is on the #GlobalCitizen stage encouraging audience members to recycle their plastic bottles to make the festival a zero-waste event. https://t.co/jjCBrUFuA7 pic.twitter.com/v7qwS83X78
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 29, 2018
Had a great time joining my friends from @msnbc at today’s @GlblCtzn festival to share my conversation with musician @johnlegend about his commitment to social justice pic.twitter.com/oQ7f99zKbA
— Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) September 29, 2018
The event serves as something of a rallying cry for activists around the world–global citizens–of all ages who are calling on world leaders to end extreme poverty across the globe by 2030.
But this year’s festival had a slightly different feel and tone. It comes with #MeToo serving as the backdrop, and the country is coming off of an emotional couple of days, highlighted by wall-to-wall coverage of the Judge Brett Kavanaugh-Dr. Christine Blasey Ford hearings, which took a lot out of people.
WATCH: Janelle Monáe at #GlobalCitizen Festival:
“I dedicate this to Dr. Ford. I dedicate this to Anita Hill. I dedicate this to all of us who are trying to make this world a better place.” https://t.co/jjCBrUFuA7 pic.twitter.com/rVSbSjl3jf
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 29, 2018
This is easily the most star-studded lineup from a musical standpoint.
The Weeknd and Janet Jackson are headlining, along with Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, and Janelle Monáe. A special guest performance is being given by Legend.
LIVE NOW: John Legend performs at #GlobalCitizen Festival. https://t.co/wbv33mic5v pic.twitter.com/lGn9DDONBI
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 29, 2018
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Robert DeNiro, Coldplay’s Chris Martin were among the luminaries to appear on-stage and speak to the crowd.
Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware sat down with Chris Hayes at the festival:
“Jeff Flake is the real hero here of what happened. He just needed some reassurance on some of the doubts he had.”
Sen. Chris Coons joins @chrislhayes at #GlobalCitizen Festival to discuss latest on the FBI’s investigation into the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. pic.twitter.com/ysI8yvYylL
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 29, 2018