United News of Bangladesh

The Grammy Awards on Sunday became the latest high-profile stage for growing celebrity criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, as musicians and activists used the red carpet and acceptance speeches to denounce US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The awards season has coincided with an intensified deportation campaign, particularly in Minneapolis, prompting artists to weigh whether and how to publicly oppose immigration enforcement. In the days leading up to the Grammys, activists urged celebrities to wear protest pins calling for ICE to leave US cities, coordinating with artists’ teams and distributing the pins at multiple industry events. Organisers said the response at the Grammys appeared stronger than at last month’s Golden Globes, reflecting rising public anger after a series of high-profile incidents, including the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer, the detention of a five-year-old child, Liam Conejo Ramos, and the recent arrest of journalist Don Lemon. Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of Latino advocacy group Maremoto, said the music industry’s culture made artists more willing to take visible stands than their Hollywood counterparts. “These are folks known for big, rebellious performances and bold self-expression,” she said. “The pins are about much more than a red carpet moment. They’re about taking a stand and showing that ICE should be out of our communities.” Several artists wore protest messages on the Grammys red carpet, including Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens. Kehlani also used her acceptance speech for best R&B performance to condemn ICE. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver said he wore a whistle to honour legal observers documenting federal agents’ actions on the streets. “I think music exists to heal and bring people together,” Vernon told the Associated Press. “But the real work is being done by those observers on the ground.” The protests echoed similar demonstrations at last week’s Sundance Film Festival, where actors including Natalie Portman, Olivia Wilde and Zoey Deutch wore “ICE OUT” pins. Deutch also displayed a “BE GOOD” pin in memory of Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE officer last month. Wilde said she was disturbed by what she described as a growing normalisation of deadly enforcement actions. Portman, speaking at the premiere of her film The Gallerist, became emotional as she described the difficulty of celebrating creative achievements amid widespread fear in immigrant communities. Activists acknowledged that not all artists are able or willing to speak out publicly. Morales Rocketto said opposition can come from record labels, managers, fashion sponsors or corporate partners, while others may fear personal consequences. She also noted that Latino artists, regardless of fame or wealth, may face particular risks, including concerns over immigration status within their families, amid heightened enforcement under the Trump administration. Despite those pressures, organisers said the visible protest at the Grammys signaled a growing cultural revolt against immigration policies, with artists increasingly using their platforms to express solidarity with affected communities.