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TPMCGYoda

Master Qui-Gon, more to say, have you?

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"That message of rebellion you beamed out somehow made its way into the deepest dark of Imperial prisons. They were inspired by it, Ezra. They rallied others to rise up and break out. Dozens of us, rebels, sympathizers are free, thanks to them. But they didn't make it."
―Ryder Azadi tells Ezra Bridger what happened to his parents[1]

In 3 BBY, imprisoned revolutionaries Ephraim and Mira Bridger organized a revolt in an Imperial prison. The Bridgers, who had been imprisoned years earlier for broadcasting anti-Imperial messages on Lothal, were inspired to organize the attempt after they heard their son, Ezra Bridger, transmit a message of rebellion across the galaxy. Dozens of prisoners escaped, including former Lothal Governor Ryder Azadi, but the Bridgers themselves were killed. After escaping, Azadi returned to Lothal to find Ezra, and he told the boy what happened to his parents.

Prelude[]

"See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families and your freedom? It's only gonna get worse unless we stand up and fight back. It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand the tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together. Because that's when we're strongest: as one."
―Ezra Bridger transmits a message of rebellion[3]
Ezra transmits a message of rebellion

Ezra Bridger broadcasts a message of rebellion to Lothal, which was heard by his parents in prison

In 4 BBY,[2] during the insurgency against the Galactic Empire on the Outer Rim planet of Lothal, the rebel crew of the starship Ghost hacked the planet's Imperial Communications Center to transmit a message of rebellion to the people of Lothal and nearby star systems. The message was read by Ezra Bridger, a young Padawan in the crew. During his message, he assured the people of Lothal that, despite what the Empire claimed, he and his crew were not criminals, but rebels who were fighting for the freedom of Lothal. He urged people to look at the oppression that the Empire had brought to their world and to stand up against them, despite the loss and sacrifice it would require.[3]

Though the message was only intended for the citizens of Lothal, the broadcast reached the ears of prisoners being held by the Galactic Empire.[1] Two of those prisoners were Ezra's parents, Ephraim and Mira Bridger, who had been imprisoned years earlier for broadcasting similar revolutionary messages on Lothal.[4] Though Ezra never identified himself in the message, his parents knew it was him and were inspired by what he said. They stood up for their fellow prisoners throughout their incarceration, but especially after they heard their son's words.[1]

The revolt[]

"How did they know it was me? On the transmission?"
"Your voice, your words, son, telling Lothal to stand up. They knew right away."
―Ezra Bridger and Ryder Azadi[1]

Ezra's message inspired his parents to take action. They rallied dozens of other prisoners to attempt an escape from their prison. One of those prisoners was Ryder Azadi, the former governor of Lothal who had supported the Bridgers' broadcasts and was charged with treason as a result. During the revolt, dozens of prisoners were able to make their way to freedom, but the Bridgers were separated during the prison break and refused to leave until everyone else made it out. According to Azadi, by the time the other prisoners escaped, the Bridgers had been killed.[1]

Aftermath[]

"The Jedi teach that life doesn't cease at death, but merely changes form in the Force. Your parents are alive inside you, Ezra. They will be. Always."
Kanan Jarrus, Ezra's master[1]
Ezra sees his parents through the Force

Ezra sees his parents through the Force

The prison break caused Ezra to see a vision of his parents and Azadi that led him to return to Lothal to try to find answers. Azadi also returned to Lothal, hoping to find the boy so he could tell him what happened to his parents. Ezra found him on Lothal and Azadi explained what happened, giving Ezra the answer about his parents' fate that he had hoped to find for so long. Though they were gone, Ezra saw his parents through the Force and they told him that they were proud of him and that he would need to stay strong.[1]

Behind the scenes[]

The escape from the Imperial prison was an event that was first referenced in "Legacy," an episode in the second season of the animated television series Star Wars Rebels. It resolved the question of the fate of Ephraim and Mira Bridger,[1] a storyline that began in the first season episode "Empire Day."[4]

Appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

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