(AllHipHop News) The National Immigration Law Center honored Grammy-nominated musician She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph. The Atlanta resident, also known as 21 Savage, was one of the 2019 Courageous Luminaries Award recipients.
Black Lives Matter co-founder/Reform L.A. Jails founder Patrisse Cullors presented the plaque to 21. Somos Un Pueblo Unido and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP were the other Courageous Luminaries Award honorees. Actress Grace Parra hosted the event inside the Ebell Theater of Los Angeles.
“21 Savage’s story is a powerful reminder of our deeply flawed immigration system,” says Marielena Hincapié, the Executive Director of NILC. “We are committed to fighting for the rights of immigrants and we’re thrilled to honor 21 Savage for standing with us in this fight against this administration’s ongoing attack on immigrant communities.”
OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF 21 SAVAGE … pic.twitter.com/fL3WbTrEwk
— Kuck Baxter (@KuckBaxter) February 4, 2019
The London-born entertainer made national news after being detained by ICE agents in February for being an undocumented immigrant. According to 21, he was brought to America around the age of seven and his visa expired during his teenage years. Bin Abraham-Joseph reportedly filed a U-visa application with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service in 2017.
In response to his incarceration, supporters of the Atlanta-raised rapper helped spread the #Free21Savage campaign. A “Stop The Deportation of She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph” petition collected over 500,000 signatures. 21 was eventually released on bond after spending 10 days in ICE detention.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jerritt Clarke
