Hi Friend,
I used to live in South Carolina and had DACA. But in 2017, my life changed forever.
After several months of enduring abuse at Stewart Detention Camp in Georgia, I signed my own deportation order. Despite the tears and hardship, signing my deportation was the beginning of reclaiming my freedom and seeking justice for my family.
Now I live in Mexico where I’m rebuilding my life and hustling to pursue my dreams while our family fights to reunite us. Stories like mine are many: stories of survivors, of fighters, of people holding onto hope.
That’s why I’m honored to share my story on the first ever Immigrant Day of Resilience, debuting with a mural in Washington, D.C. on April 15!Check out all the details here!
For Immigrant Day of Resilience, we’re teaming up with Shirien Damra to create her first-ever mural honoring our vibrant community’s resilience in the face of detention, deportation and policing. Shirien is an illustrator and designer who grew up in a working-class Palestinian refugee family and whose artwork strives to amplify and heal communities fighting for justice.
Friend — when I was arrested, police voluntarily handed me over to ICE. In every instance I was dehumanized.
That’s why I’m moved beyond words to know that my image and story will get to be shared in the nation’s capital and in a predominantly Black, brown and immigrant neighborhood. On Immigrant Day of Resilience on April 15th, I want to shower my community with love and affirmations that we are powerful. I want to honor our stories.
Who do you want to honor? Submit the name of a person you want to honor and we may feature their name on the UWD website and/or share aloud during the mural unveiling on April 15th.
HONOR AN IMMIGRANT
The day of the mural unveiling my sister and cousin will be in town, and I’ll be watching from Mexico. I hope you’ll join me on that day to honor our community members and recommit to our fight for dignity for all people and all immigrants.
We’re in this together,
Edder and the UWD Team
