Cast Announced for Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball; 35 of the World's Most Talented Entertainers Stand …

NEW YORK, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amnesty International today announced its line-up of 35 of the world's most talented comedians and musicians who will stand up for free speech and celebrate 50 years of Amnesty International at the upcoming Secret Policeman's Ball, March 4, 2012 at Radio City Music Hall.

Comedians and actors announced today include: Matt Berry, Jimmy Carr, Eddie Izzard, Taran Killam, Rex Lee, Bobby Moynihan, Liam Neeson, Chris O'Dowd, Jay Pharoah, Tim Roth and Burmese comedian Maung Thura Zarganar.

They join previously announced all-star American comedians Fred Armisen, Hannibal Buress, David Cross, Bill Hader, Rashida Jones, Seth Meyers, Bob Odenkirk, Paul Rudd, Andy Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Statler & Waldorf from Disney's The Muppets, Jon Stewart, Jason Sudeikis, Reggie Watts and Kristen Wiig, with British comics Russell Brand, Noel Fielding, Micky Flanagan, John Oliver, Peter Serafinowicz, Jack Whitehall and musical acts Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.

Also joining the cast is internationally celebrated Burmese comedian and director, Maung Thura Zarganar, who uses his talents to speak out about human rights abuses in Burma. In 2008, Zarganar led a movement that collected money and supplies for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. He also publicly criticized the government's response to the disaster. As a result he was given a 35-year prison sentence. On 12 October 2011, Zarganar was released from prison.

"Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball is an opportunity to demonstrate to a new wired audience that the freedoms we enjoy every day - to post, tweet, blog and email - are under threat in every region of the world," said Suzanne Nossel, Amnesty International USA executive director. "New technologies have triggered new forms of repression of basic rights such as freedom of expression and assembly. It may sound far-fetched, but comedy is truly life-threatening in many places in the world, as it was for Zarganar in Burma. The best way to stand with those who are denied freedom of speech is to use our freedom to demand theirs."

All comedians and musicians performing on Sunday are standing up for free speech.

"It's good there is freedom of speech. This means I can say that I find Prince Charles sexually attractive and that the U.S. presidential elections are a meaningless spectacle to distract us from the mercantile skullduggery of the cabals that control our planet and no one can do anything about it. Thanks Amnesty," said Russell Brand.

Amnesty International also announced a limited inventory of production kill tickets will be released to the general public today at http://www.ticketmaster.com for the Ball at New York City's Radio City Music Hall Sunday, March 4, 2012.

In the U.S. EPIX, the Ball's exclusive US broadcast partner, will telecast the event LIVE and commercial free in the United States on Sunday, March 4 at 7PM ET/4PM PT/6PM CT. In addition, EPIX is offering the event free to all U.S. viewers by hosting the first-ever live stream of the charity event on EpixHD.com and across EPIX apps on Xbox and Roku.

Channel 4 will exclusively broadcast the show in the UK on Friday, 9th March at 10pm.

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Cast Announced for Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball; 35 of the World's Most Talented Entertainers Stand ...