In 2017, I helped organized a rally “Shut The Trump Up”.

2017 marked the fifth anniversary of DACA, which came under attack during Trump’s first term. Alongside rising arrests of immigrants, the Muslim and refugee ban, and ongoing threats to healthcare and human rights, his administration pushed policies that were openly xenophobic, racist, sexist, ableist, anti-poor, anti-Black, anti-Native, and anti-environmental.

The rally brought together Asian American organizations from across the country—including New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Tampa—united in a shared movement for justice and liberation. Our parents, grandparents, and ancestors have always fought back against war, colonization, and injustice, both here and abroad. They’ve defied the model minority myth and redefined what it means to be Asian American in the U.S.

We’ve all been told how we’re “supposed” to act—quiet, submissive, and obedient—but history shows otherwise. Youth have always been at the front lines of change. Many of us come from countries shaped by repressive regimes, and we carry that same spirit of resistance within us. Now is our time to stand up and fight back again.

One project I was especially proud of during this rally was creating and presenting Trump’s Report Card, which highlighted his performance on key issues. His grades included an F in Writing, F in Environmental Justice, F in U.S. History, F in P.E., and F in Word Studies—a creative way to call out his failures through humor and critique.