Pop artist Renée Rapp is joining the voices of numerous celebrities who are speaking up against the harsh immigration measures initiated by the Trump administration.
During her recent concert in Portland, Oregon—a city where President Donald Trump had sent in the National Guard—Rapp addressed the audience, saying, “It just happens that we time out that we’re here at the same time as some people who shouldn’t … be here are.”
Portland has become the latest city in a series where the president authorized National Guard troops to act in what he describes as an effort to tackle crime, following similar controversies in places like Chicago and Los Angeles.
Kick off your day informed. Receive the most important news straight to your inbox every morning.
A former Broadway star, Rapp has quickly made a name for herself in the pop music scene. At the concert, she didn’t hold back her feelings towards “ICE,” “this administration,” and “Trump,” asserting her stance on the president’s controversial mass deportation efforts while proclaiming she wanted her views to be “abundantly clear.”
The “Leave Me Alone” artist expressed her gratitude towards the Portland crowd, stating, “You are very gracious hosts, thank you for having us.”
In the weekend concerts nationwide, she is not the only artist taking a firm stand. Midst similar situations, performers like Chappell Roan and Bad Bunny have also pushed back against the aggressive tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In an unusual turn, responses from both the White House and the Department of Homeland Security have surfaced as artists continue to voice their criticisms, escalating the ongoing clash between the entertainment industry and the Trump Administration.
Currently, Rapp is on tour supporting her debut album “Bite Me,” which she released back in August. The tour will come to a close later this month in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reneé Rapp Takes a Stand Against ICE and Trump at Portland Concert
