Popsugar Celebrity Cardi B Celebrities at the Global Citizen Festival 2018 Stars Deliver Fiery Speeches and Performances at the Global Citizen Festival 30 September 2018 by Brea Cubit Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur This year's Global Citizen Festival brought a profusion of activists, musicians, and celebrities to the stage at Central Park's Great Lawn in New York on Saturday. Stars such as Dakota Johnson, Janet Jackson, Shawn Mendes, Mark Ruffalo, and Cardi B delivered powerful speeches and performances while encourageing viewers to tackle social issues and make the world a better place. They addressed a series of topics, including government contention, environmental protection, gender equality, racial justice, and immigration. Janelle Monáe performed "Django Jane" before taking a moment to talk to survivors of sexual assault, saying, "When survivors of sexual violence come forward, we have got to listen." Later, John Legend sang a new song called "Preach" that emphasized the importance of remaining hopeful during the darkest of times. Janet Jackson, who performed some of her greatest hits, including "That's the Way Love Goes," also passionately spoke against inequality. "Mistreatment and mindless prejudice has to stop," she said. "Equality is our demand. Action is our answer." See the celebrities who were at the festival to support important causes and galvanize viewers in the photos ahead. Shawn Mendes Image Source: Getty / Michael Kovac 1 / 22 Shawn Mendes and John Legend Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur 2 / 22 John Legend Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur 3 / 22 Cardi B Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur 4 / 22 The Weeknd Image Source: Getty / Noam Galai 5 / 22 Janelle Monáe Image Source: Getty / Michael Kovac 6 / 22 Janet Jackson Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur 7 / 22 Chris Martin Image Source: Getty / Theo Wargo 8 / 22 Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness Image Source: Getty / Theo Wargo 9 / 22 Rami Malek and Mark Ruffalo Image Source: Getty / Theo Wargo 10 / 22 Danai Gurira Image Source: Getty / Michael Kovac 11 / 22 Kal Penn, Rachel Brosnahan, and Robert De Niro Image Source: Getty / ANGELA WEISS 12 / 22 Katie Holmes Image Source: Getty / Michael Kovac 13 / 22 Cynthia Erivo and Ava DuVernay Image Source: Getty / Michael Kovac 14 / 22 Sho Madjozi Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 15 / 22 Dakota Johnson Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 16 / 22 Naomi Campbell Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 17 / 22 Amber Heard and Bridget Moynahan Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 18 / 22 Forest Whitaker Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 19 / 22 Camren Bicondova Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 20 / 22 LaLa Anthony Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 21 / 22 Keala Settle Image Source: Getty / Steven Ferdman 22 / 22 Cardi BGlobal Citizen FestivalJanelle MonáeMark RuffaloJohn LegendJanet Jackson