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In an ad released by the Independent Restaurant Coalition this week, Oscar-winner and all-round Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman narrates as the group calls for help from Congress and the public as restaurants are "facing extinction."
The video was produced by Emmy Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern's production company, Intuitive Content, and details how the restaurant industry has been decimated by the coronavirus crisis.
Freeman tells us about the 16 million people employed in the US hospitality sector who face an uncertain future with their employment prospects under serious threat.
"The COVID-19 crisis threatens to permanently close 85% of independent restaurants -- 16 million people risk losing their jobs -- disproportionately impacting people of colour and single mothers," Freeman says over footage of mask-wearing workers from all walks of life, from farmers to wait staff. "One in four people who lost their jobs during the pandemic were restaurant workers."
"Without your help, our favourite places to eat will be gone forever," Freeman continues before urging viewers to "tell Congress to pass the RESTAURANTS Act now."
The latest public appeal to Congress comes as the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020 gains momentum in both the U.S. House and the Senate, which aims to create a $120,000,000,000 Restaurant Revitalization Fund "to provide structured relief to food service or drinking establishments" through the end of the year.
