America Ferrera: Hillary sees immigrants as an investment
Actress speaks at Democratic National Convention
America Ferrera may be a big Hollywood star but she always takes time to honor and thank the opportunities that were given to her as a child of immigrants.
The Golden Globe winner spoke Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention along with fellow actress Lena Dunham, and while a good portion of their combined speech slammed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Ferrera also spoke about what this country has done for her.
“As a child of Honduran immigrants, I am profoundly grateful for the access and opportunity that exists in this extraordinary nation,” the 31-year-old said. “I was educated in public schools; my talents were nurtured through a public arts program and, you know what? Occasionally I needed a free meal to get through the school day.”
Ferrera continued: “Not everyone looks at the millions of young people like me – children born into struggling families, children born to immigrant parents, children who are immigrants themselves – and sees an investment.”
The former “Ugly Betty” actress has been a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton since her first run for president in 2008. This time it’s no different.
“Hillary has spent the last 30 years proving what she sees in us,” Ferrera added. “Not our color, gender, or economic status, but our capacity to grow into thriving adults able to contribute great things to this country.”
As mentioned, Ferrera and Dunham packed their speech with stinging attacks against Trump from start to finish.
“Hi. I’m Lena Dunham, and according to Donald Trump, my body is probably, like, a 2.”
“And I’m America Ferrera, and according to Donald Trump, I’m probably a rapist.”
"But America, you're not Mexican," Dunham pointed out.
"And President Obama isn't Kenyan, Lena, but that doesn't stop Donald," Ferrera shot back.
"We know what you're all thinking," Dunham told the crowd. "Why should you care what some television celebrity has to say about politics?"
"And we feel the same way," Ferrera continued. "But he is the Republican nominee so we need to talk about it."
The duo didn’t stop there, accusing the billionaire businessman of “trans-phobia, Islam-phobia, xenophobia and systematic racism.”
"Donald's not making America great again. He's making America hate again. And the vast majority of us, we cannot afford to see his vision of America come to be,” Ferrera said.
"Luckily, we the voters carry the future of this country. We don't accept hatred as the norm in our communities. So why would we ever accept it in the Oval Office?" Dunham concluded to cheers from the crowd.
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