Activist at anti-Trump ‘Hands Off’ rally declares, “I am an immigrant, I am undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed.”
At a protest in Washington, DC on Saturday, an immigration activist named Greisa Martinez Rosas stood in front of a large crowd and proudly said, “I’m an immigrant, I’m undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed.
She wanted to show that she wasn’t afraid of being honest about who she is, even though being undocumented in the U.S. can be risky. Her statement got a lot of attention online, with many people praising her courage, while others strongly disagreed and called for her to be arrested or deported.
Greisa is not new to this kind of work. She has been fighting for immigrant rights for years and now leads a group called United We Dream. It’s a large organization that supports young immigrants and helps them speak up for their rights. At the rally, Greisa and others were protesting against President Trump’s policies. These included harsh immigration enforcement, new taxes on imported goods, and big cuts to government programs. The cuts were part of a plan by a new department led by Elon Musk, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
A video of Greisa’s speech quickly spread on social media, and it’s been viewed over a million times. Many people supported her, but some critics were angry. Some even tagged immigration officials on social media, hoping she would be arrested. One person joked that the only thing she didn’t do was give out her home address to immigration officers.
Greisa’s story began in Hidalgo, Mexico, where she was born. She came to the U.S. as a child and grew up in Dallas, Texas. Despite not having legal status, she has become a national figure in the fight for immigrant rights. According to her biography on the University of Illinois Chicago website, she is now the executive director of a network that includes more than 400,000 members.
The rally she spoke at was one of many happening across the country that day—more than 1,000 in total. Big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia also held large protests. Many of these events were organized by Democratic and progressive groups. Their main goal was to push back against President Trump’s decisions, especially the new “Liberation Day” tariffs that raised prices on almost all imported goods. These tariffs caused problems in the global economy, and some people said it wiped out trillions of dollars in value from retirement savings and investments.
During the rally, Congressman Jamie Raskin also spoke. He criticized the president, saying that his actions were hurting the economy and people’s financial futures. He joked that his retirement account had dropped so badly, it felt like it was cut in half.
Overall, the protests were a sign that many people are worried about the direction the country is going, especially when it comes to immigration, the economy, and government spending. Greisa’s speech stood out because of how boldly she shared her story, even knowing it might lead to personal risks.
