My workplace holds an annual art exhibition featuring artworks made by the employees and/or families of the employees.
I entered last year with some of my older photography works, but this year I wanted to create a brand new piece for it. My piece is a blend of watercolors and embroidery threads. Titled
"Feelings", to convey and capture how my mindset has been recently.
I live in Minnesota within the Twin Cities where Operation Metro Surge was conducted. Within my neighborhood. They hurt, they kidnapped, they murdered us. BIPOC, immigrants and children of immigrants, were specifically targeted causing terror and chaos here. It didn't matter if you are a citizen or not, they were racial profiling.
I am Hmong, a smaller southeast Asian ethnicity group. We are scattered all over the world. From South America to Australia, to Vietnam to France, to name a few. And here in the US. My ancestors fled China, eventually making their way to Laos and settled in the remote areas there for many
many generations. My parents fled their homes in Laos during the Vietnam War. Swimming across the Mekong River to somewhere safer. Then they came here to the US as refugee immigrants. I am a second generation immigrant, a child of refugee immigrants.
During the ICE raids, many of us hid and laid low. Some are still hiding or laying low because ICE are still here. Smaller numbers, but present. My families and friends stayed indoors. Many of us did out of fear. My parents were actually flying back in from traveling and their group was stopped by ICE at the airport. Thankfully, they were able to leave without harm. ICE knocked on one of my brother's house, but he did not open and eventually agents left.
What kept my hopes and determination was community. My neighbors, the community groups on FB, the local organizing of food shelters, grocery deliveries, ICE watch... My neighbors kept my hopes! And through community support, I gradually found the strength to move forward and how I can help.
I am a big supporter of mutual aids and donate to them as much as I can. I went to my big protest this past weekend here at the No Kings Twin Cities which was held at the Saint Paul Capitol. I went alone, but never felt alone. The people around me and I shared stories. The small but impactful ways we are fighting this fascist administration. Minnesotans showed up. And I am doing my part for my families, my neighbors, and the community that held me up.
