Brandi Carlile announces $25,000 grant to support ICE detainees in Minnesota
Lesbian singer-songwriter and activist Brandi Carlile has said she is “heartbroken and angry for Minnesota”, as she announced new funding to support people held in immigration detention and urged communities to stand together against what she described as a growing climate of hate.
In a statement released on social media, Carlile praised the response of Minnesotans over the past month, saying the community had “continued to set an incredible example for the rest of us, demonstrating the power of uniting to protect our neighbours and defend what is right”.
She highlighted recent international solidarity efforts, noting that members of the Minnesota “Bramily” last week organised a vigil in Mexico for Renée Good and for the 32 people who have died in ICE custody since the beginning of 2025.
“Now, more than ever, it is vital that we continue to hold each other and take action to stop the hate that is spreading through our country,” Carlile said.
As part of that commitment, Carlile announced that her charitable organisation, the Looking Out Foundation, will grant $25,000 to The Advocates for Human Rights, a Minnesota-based organisation. The funding will be used to help provide free legal assistance to people currently in detention.
In addition to the grant, Carlile said the foundation would share resources and guidance aimed at helping communities organise, support one another and resist injustice collectively. She also encouraged supporters to use the 5 Calls app to contact their elected representatives and press for accountability and reform.
“What affects one of us, affects all of us and we need to continue to look out for each other,” she said, ending her statement with a message of resolve: “We’ll find a way.”
Carlile has long used her public platform to advocate for human rights and social justice causes, frequently combining fundraising with calls for civic engagement. Her latest intervention comes amid heightened concern among advocacy groups over conditions in immigration detention and the treatment of detainees across the United States.
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