This dark day in history, known as Evil May Day, was portrayed in a then-banned play called The Book of Sir Thomas More, believed to be written between 1596 and 1601. William Shakespeare and two other writers were called to edit the manuscript, with the Bard contributing the 147 lines of More’s emphatic pro-immigrant monologue. “Thomas More’s speech to the mob is as relevant as ever,” said US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power in a Sept. 16 speech at the Lincoln Center Global Exchange to champion refugees. She recruited Shakespearean actor Jay O. Sanders to perform the monologue in the middle of her speech. Say now the kingShould so much come too short of your great trespassAs but to banish you, whither would you go?

Source: Huffington Post September 21, 2016 16:41 UTC