Grammy Awards gala marked by ICE protests
Los Angeles, February 2 (Hibya) - The Grammy Awards gala saw many artists protest against U.S. border and immigration police ICE, whose actions have led to deadly crackdowns in the United States.
Accepting the award for best “musica urbana album,” Puerto Rican rapper and songwriter Bad Bunny opened his speech by saying: “Before I thank God, I want to say this: f*** ICE!”
The crowd at the Los Angeles ceremony responded with loud applause, as heard on the televised broadcast.
“We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens,” he said. “We are human and we are American.”
After pausing amid cheers, Bad Bunny continued:
“I know it’s hard not to hate these days, and I was thinking about it — sometimes we get contaminated, I don’t know how to say it in English. Hate, the more it grows, the stronger it gets.
“The only thing stronger than hate is love. So please, we have to be different. If we are going to fight, we have to do it with love.”
The phrase “ICE out” has been used in protests as a call to end the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns.
Bad Bunny’s remarks came amid nationwide anti-ICE protests over the weekend. On Friday, Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at a concert in Minneapolis organized by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello to support the families of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal agents last month.
Springsteen released a song titled “Streets of Minneapolis” last week, dedicating it to the people of the city and to the memory of Good and Pretti.
Billie Eilish also spoke out against ICE on stage at the Grammy ceremony.
Eilish, who has openly criticized ICE officials in recent weeks, said while accepting the Grammy for song of the year for “Wildflower,” “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
“It’s really hard to know what to say or what to do right now,” Eilish continued, calling on everyone to “keep fighting, keep speaking up and keep protesting.”
The end of her remarks was cut off by a censor beep during the broadcast, but according to videos shared online, Eilish said, “F*** ICE.”
Earlier in the broadcast, Olivia Dean, who won the best new artist award, also made a political statement on stage. The British singer-songwriter of Caribbean descent said in her acceptance speech that she is “the granddaughter of an immigrant.”
“I am a product of courage, and I think these people deserve to be celebrated. Without each other, we are nothing,” she said.
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