The SAG-AFTRA strike continues with many Star Trek celebrities walking the picket line.
We’re a week away from Star Trek Day, which is on September 8th, and this year, Trek actors John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox from Star Trek: Enterprise) and Jonathan Del Arco (Hugh from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard) are asking fans to join them for a special cause. Called United We Trek, the events will be held at the Paramount offices in both Los Angeles and New York City.
Del Arco told Trekmovie that he and Billingsley were on the picket line when they came up with the idea to invite the fans because no one has ever thought about doing that before. Fans, of course, are a huge part of Trek and even helped save The Original Series in the 1960s. So the two actors thought it appropos to include those fans who’ve been asking how they can help support the actors on strike.
Why it’s important to have this even on Star Trek Day
The event is being called “United We Trek,” and according to Billingsley, there’s a reason why September 8th is the perfect day to involve the fans.
"“We wanted to do it on [Star Trek] Day, which is something that Paramount has celebrated in past years. And it’s brought a large community of folks together, to essentially say, look at the wonderful values that we all support the ecosystem, it seems to us that what is happening right now is actually running counter to Star Trek values. And the ecosystem is really about we as actors and writers and designers and craftspeople coming together to say, this wonderful universe is something that you probably associate with us, not with the corporation.”"
If you’re looking for more information about where the picketing will happen, check out the graphic below that Trek Geeks shared.
And be sure to read up on the guidlines before you show up because there are some things you should and shouldn’t do,. Along with wearing a hat, Billingsley encourages fans to bring a homemade sign.
"Bring a homemade sign if you want to. You’ll have to have it approved by a SAG or WGA captain. We ask you not to use the name of the show or any individual character on any show. We’ll have SAG and WGA signs hopefully available for everybody, but they may be at a premium. And stay for as long as you want between 10 to 12. We’ll hopefully have a big group picture at the end-ish."
Also, parking will be at a premium so a car service or public transportation would be your best bet, and bring plenty of sunscreen and water. Don’t wear any Trek themed clothing, but do wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be doing a lot of walking.