Federal immigration policy plays a critical role in the reception and treatment of people arriving in the United States. Recent changes eroded humanitarian protections, including Donald Trump's termination of temporary protected status for Haitians and Venezuelans, which had provided a lifeline to many Miamians. People have been taken from their homes and workplaces and thrust into poorly maintained detention centers where the legal deck is often stacked against them as they face deportation. Daily ICE raids are ripping families apart. For many, the cascade of overwhelm has been paralyzing.
A coalition of young Miami creatives is leveraging its inter-relationships to foster a sense of hope while inciting meaningful change. To that end, on Saturday, July 5, Miami Saves America invites Miamians to a new kind of celebration at Dear Eleanor at the eastern edge of Wynwood.
Tyriq Askew and Khami Auerbach, two of the event's organizers, met with Miami New Times over Zoom to discuss the effort.
A spirit of collaboration fuels the creative partnership between Auerbach, a videographer and photographer, and Askew, a member of the local alt-pop outfit 5loko. They co-hosted a biweekly radio show called Following: Very Cool Shit! in 2024 for Miami Community Radio (MCR), well-known for capturing the local music zeitgeist. MCR calls Wynwood community space Dear Eleanor home, and after Auerbach and Askew established rapport with owner Sarah Rammos, they asked to put on a show.
"She does the same for a bunch of artists down here. And that was kind of the first show that we did as organizers in January. She works with us. She trusts our vision," Askew explains.
Their first effort, "The 5loko Show," was supported by friends and fellow creatives. Afterward, it felt natural to continue embracing Dear Eleanor as a creative hub. From the initial planning stages, they knew they wanted their next endeavor to benefit their community.
"We were definitely gonna do something related to immigration because that's been a hot topic forever, but right now even more," says Auerbach. As she looked for a local organization to support, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) stood out for its consistency and dedication.
Saturday's event is split into halves, with unique daytime and nighttime programming. The daytime portion, starting at 2 p.m., is free. Local organizations including FLIC, ACLU, and Sunrise Movement will be on-site with tables alongside vendors like WiredByZu, Kissing Carrion, and V-Star Stitches. There'll also be an interactive art exhibition and classic family-friendly games such as cornhole.
Performances will be livestreamed, and DJs will perform throughout the day. Ticket sales from this portion will go to FLIC to support various initiatives, including free legal assistance, fee waivers, employment authorization, and a wide array of critical resources.
Askew says the aim is to create a new kind of celebration. "We want it to be those things that we all enjoy, that we all love. And like also having pride — not as much in America, but in the community. Those are things we all enjoy. We just don't want to put it behind July 4, 1776."
The approach highlights the conflicted relationship many immigrants have with the concept of American independence that elevates American exceptionalism without reconciling that lofty concept with the destruction of Indigenous communities, the slave trade, exploitation of undocumented immigrants, and a federal immigration policy that fails to recognize the immense impact and contributions of those who dream of making the U.S. their new home.
"I feel like in terms of the youth down here, a lot of us are very quick to feel like there's nothing you can really do. And mutual aid and fundraising is the first step of many to get involved," Auerbach asserts.
The organizers hope to inspire open-minded Miamians to consider embracing that perspective. "Personal change is extremely important to the process: the things we're doing every day, the things we're consuming every day as a society. If we can make sure we're outside for all these moments in history, we can change the culture," says Askew.
Miami Saves America. With 5loko, Miss Purple Shampoo, 1-800-305 (1-800-Lolita B2B Xana), Mijita, Gumthewrapper, 619!, Hii Rickyy, Rayoonie. 2 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at Dear Eleanor, 148 NE 28th St., Miami. Free until 7 p.m. Tickets for post-7 p.m. performances $15-$20 via 5loko.com.
