SAG Awards 2017: Alia Shawkat issues Arabic greeting

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Actress began by saying 'Salaam Alaikum!' as she took to stage to present award
The Arabic phrase translates to 'greetings', or 'peace be with you'
Star, whose father is from Iraq, protested at Los Angeles airport on Saturday

Published: 05:47 EST, 30 January 2017 | Updated: 06:29 EST, 30 January 2017

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Arrested Development actress Alia Shawkat used an Arabic greeting as she took the stage at the SAG awards, in a pointed protest at Donald Trump's immigration ban.

The 27-year-old, who was presenting the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, began by saying 'Salaam Alaikum!'

The phrase translates to 'greetings', or 'peace be with you'.

Arrested Development actress Alia Shawkat used an Arabic greeting as she took the stage at the SAG awards with Steven Yeun

She continued by making a dig at Kellyanne Conway's 'alternative facts' comment, saying: 'Like many of our nominees here tonight, we represent people who have come from other cultures, and that’s a real fact.'

The Search Party star, whose father is from Iraq, had joined a protest at Los Angeles International airport on Saturday night, along with Ellen Page and Chloe Grace Moretz.

She tweeted: 'LAX COME! We are growing every second NO TRUMP NO KKK NO FASCIST USA.'

Shawkat was among a number of celebrities who spoke out about the President's controversial immigration ban on Sunday night.

She continued by saying: 'Like many of our nominees here tonight, we represent people who have come from other cultures'

Host Ashton Kutcher set the tone of the night as he kicked off the show, saying: 'Everyone at airports who belong in my America, you are a part of the fabric of who we are…we welcome you.'

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose father was an immigrant from France, also spoke out about the controversial policy, saying: 'The immigrant ban is a blemish and it's un-American.

She added: 'We are grateful for them, we stand with them, and we will fight for them.'

Stranger Things actor David Harbour also delivered a rousing speech as the drama won the best ensemble award at the SAGs.

The Search Party star, whose father is from Iraq, had joined a protest at Los Angeles International airport on Saturday night, along with Ellen Page and Chloe Grace Moretz

He said: ‘I would just like to say that in light of all that’s going on in the world today, it’s difficult to celebrate the already celebrated Stranger Things.

Harbour continued: 'We are united in that we are all human beings and we are all together on this wonderful painful, horrible painful joyous exciting and mysterious ride that is being alive.

'We will as per Chief Jim Hopper punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak and the disenfranchised and the marginalized and we will do it all with soul with heart and with joy.'

Meanwhile, Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg arrived on the red carpet with a sign saying 'Refugees welcome', while his actress wife Jocelyn Towne had 'Let them in' written on her chest.