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Natalie Portman, Gabrielle Union and Joaquin Phoenix join all-star PSA for jail reform amid COVID-19

Famous faces are coming together in a new PSA urging measures to protect the health of people jailed in LA County amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In the star-studded #SuingToSaveLives campaign video released Thursday, Natalie Portman, Sterling K. Brown, Gabrielle Union, Joaquin Phoenix and more celebrities read emotional testimonies from those currently incarcerated about unsafe conditions they're experiencing amid COVID-19. These individuals are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit filed against LA County leadership.

"There's no denying that my white privilege has protected me from the same circumstances," Portman says in the video, before "13 Reasons Why" star Brandon Flynn chimes in, "so today the best thing that I can do is use my privilege to get his story out there."

The PSA, launched by the JusticeLA COVID-19 Response team and Reform LA Jails, also asks supporters to sign a petition as citizen plaintiffs in the suit against Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the LA Board of Supervisors.

According to a news release, the video comes "six months after the initial lawsuit was filed stressing the glaring need to champion our families, friends, and loved ones behind bars that are currently at risk."

"This is the coalition’s collective cry for help, as nothing has yet been done to minimize the risk in the county," the release says. "The LASD has failed to take minimally mandated measures, having all jail facilities remain crowded with no feasible way to allow social distancing. They have also failed to have a system to quarantine newly incarcerated individuals for 14 days, and provide the proper cleaning supplies and kits to maintain the health of the incarcerated and mitigate the spread of the virus."

Others stars participating in the video include Mahershala Ali, Kendrick Sampson, Matt McGorry, Busy Phillips, Sophia Bush, Lauren Jauregui, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Shailene Woodley and Dawn-Lyen Gardner.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Natalie Portman, Gabrielle Union join COVID campaign for jail reform