Updated February 27, 2017 12:49:36

Photo: Ruth Negga arrives at the Oscars wearing a blue ribbon in support of the ACLU. (AP Jordan Strauss)

Best Actress nominee Ruth Negga, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and supermodel Karlie Kloss are among the stars who have sported blue ribbons while walking the red carpet at the Oscars.

It's actually a low-key political statement. Here's what you need to know about it.

What do the ribbons mean?

They're in support of a campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

According to its own website, the ACLU "works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the constitution and laws of the United States".

Significantly, there's one person the ACLU has had in its sights of late: US President Donald Trump.

OK. Why Donald Trump though?

The ACLU has taken significant issue with many of President Trump's actions since he took office.

From his immigration order:

To his comments about the American press:

There hasn't been a lot Mr Trump has done that the ACLU has agreed with.

It's become the organisation and voice for many who oppose the Trump administration.

Supporters have been putting their money where their mouth is, pouring a whopping $US24 million in online donations into the ACLU coffers since Donald Trump announced his executive order on immigration, according to the New York Times.

For context, the ACLU raised $US3.5 million in the entirety of 2015.

OK. So blue ribbons mean ACLU support?

And a low-key Donald Trump protest.

It's not likely to be the last protest we see at these awards either.

Topics: donald-trump, event, academy-awards-oscars, united-states

First posted February 27, 2017 12:39:37