Washington D.C. – Today marks the 4th anniversary of Immigrant Day of Resilience, a national hallmark holiday first created by United We Dream to remember and uphold the daring courage of our queer, Black, brown, immigrant elders and communities who have paved the way for a more caring democracy and home for all people. This year, United We Dream commissioned three brilliant movement artists –Devon Blow, TK Dinh, and Josué Baltezar– to create a series of postcards that demonstrate the relationship between immigrant, Black and brown communities who have cared for one another across generations. In the face of ongoing anti-immigrant attacks across the country, these postcards also pay tribute to the ways immigrants’ creative resistance continues to affirm our community’s sense of worth, belonging, and care for one another. We are our own protectors, and together, we keep each other safe.
Frida Adame, Member of United We Dream and DACA Recipient in Texas, said:
“For generations, solidarity between Black, brown, queer, and immigrant communities have come together to transform the conditions we face and fight for a democracy that represents us all. Today and every day, I am grounded in this collective power, and especially the power of my immigrant community. Immigrant youth like myself are facing major, white supremacist-led attacks, especially right here in my home state of Texas. From efforts to dismantle DACA –a life-changing program that has allowed me and hundreds of thousands of young people to go to go to school, live, and stay in the places we call home and with our loved ones– to anti-immigrant legislation like SB4 that would give police unchecked power to target Black, brown and immigrant Texans. On Immigrant Day of Resilience, I am reminded that our existence is resistance. We all belong here. We all are worthy. And we are proud of who we are. No matter how hard our opposition tries, they will never be able to dismantle the powerful ties and solidarity we have created across communities.”
Josué Baltezar, Formerly undocumented illustrator, muralist, and printmaker based in San Diego, said:
“Art has always been a tool for creative resistance and building cultural power. I’m proud to have partnered with United We Dream to celebrate this year’s Immigrant Day of Resilience and honor the spiritual resilience that keeps our movement and our people going in the face of ongoing attacks against our rights as human beings. This year especially, I chose to celebrate the unity, strength, and power of immigrant communities by creating postcards to send to our communities across the country as a reminder that we are the people who re-energize each other when we feel depleted by ongoing anti-immigrant attacks. We uplift each other, moving forward together and fighting for what we know is right and what we know our communities deserve.”
