Bad Bunny says ‘ICE out’ in Grammy Awards speech

It is music’s biggest night – but politics is still playing a leading role at the Grammy Awards.

Artists including Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny and British singer Olivia Dean, as well as country star Shaboozey and Cuban-American icon Gloria Estefan, used their wins to criticise the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations.

These have prompted protests in multiple cities – most recently in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot and killed two Americans, leading to scrutiny of the administration’s tactics and protests across the US.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” Bad Bunny said, referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens – we’re humans,” he added from the stage after his win for best musicá urbana album.

“The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love, so, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.”

His speech was the most explicit political moment of the ceremony, capping off weeks of tension in Minneapolis and protests across many American cities.

The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti caused public outcry across the country, and led to criticism from lawmakers in both parties.

On Friday, the US justice department opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death.

The 37-year-old nurse was the second Minneapolis resident shot and killed by federal immigration officials since their arrival in the state. Good, the first, was killed by an ICE agent on 7 January.

President Donald Trump has said his administration is “going to de-escalate a little bit” in Minnesota, while his border tsar Tom Homan said on Thursday that the administration planned to “draw down” federal forces if local officials co-operated.

The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a central goal and has argued that agents have targeted hardened criminal migrants in the country illegally, but the operations have also led to the arrests of those without any criminal history.

“We are not surrendering our mission at all. We’re just doing it smarter,” Homan told a news conference in Minneapolis, without specifying what form a de-escalation might take.

British singer Olivia Dean, who won best new artist, also used her speech to speak in support of immigrants.

“I’m up here as the grand-daughter of an immigrant,” said the singer, whose grandmother Carmen was part of the Windrush Generation.

“I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other.”
Billie Eilish, winning song of the year for Wildflower, added her voice.

“It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now,” she said.

“And I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”

And SZA, joint winner of record of the year with Kendrick Lamar, echoed her message.

“Please don’t fall into despair. I know now is a scary time [but] we need to trust each other and trust ourselves.

“We’re not governed by the government, we are governed by god.”

Before the Grammy ceremony started, the topic was on the lips – and lapels – of many on the red carpet. Many musicians, producers and singers donned white pins with the words “ICE OUT” in black.

Kehlani, who won two R&B awards, was among them.

“An artist’s job is to reflect the times,” she told reporters.

“People all over the world can see even just when we open our mouths one time, so I think we have an opportunity to use it wisely.”

Gloria Estefan said backstage that she was “very worried” about the state of the US.

“I don’t think anyone would say we want a free-for-all at the border. But what is happening is not at all criminals being arrested. These are people that have families that have contributed to this country for decades,” she told reporters.

She took home the award for best tropical Latin album for “Raíces” and expressed concerns in her speech about the ongoing immigration raids She said the country must “hold dear and true” to its democratic principles, which are “the reason why everyone wants to be here”.

Shaboozey won his first Grammy in the country duo performance category, for Amen featuring Jelly Roll. While on stage, he thanked his mother who immigrated from Nigeria, working several jobs to provide for him and his siblings.

“Immigrants built this country, so this is for them, for all children of immigrants.”

By BBC News