The push from music’s biggest stars can be seen Sunday from the Grammy red carpet and throughout the telecast. Activists spent the week pressuring celebrities to donate pins protesting the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cities, working with their teams to spread the message and deploying them at several events leading up to the ceremony.

Billie Eilish, Finneas and Carole King wore pins while appearing on stage. Even Justin and Hailey Bieber, who don’t usually discuss American politics, have them. Eilish began her song of the year speech by claiming that “no one is illegal on stolen land.” British soul pop singer Olivia Dean, recognized as the best new artist, has shared that she is the granddaughter of an immigrant – people she says “deserve to be celebrated.” Expletives flew as ICE was cursed repeatedly by the winners including Kehlani.

“Before I thank God, I will say: ICE out,” said Bad Bunny to great applause while accepting the award for best música urbana album. “We are not wild, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are people and we are Americans.”

The constant push and button spread marked a stronger show of support than organizers had seen in at last month’s Golden Globes. Public reaction has increased since a Border Patrol officer shot and killed a 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretty and federal agents detained the 5-year-old Liam Rabbit Ramos. The new one arrest of journalist Don Lemonwho attended Sunday’s ceremony, only added to the clamor.

Plus, as one organizer noted, the Grammys tend to draw less risqué crowds than Hollywood movies.

“These are people who are known for six-stage shows, crazy costumes, a kind of rebellion, punk rock – that’s like the music industry. And so, I think it’s reasonable that we see good support,” said Maremoto Executive Director Jess Morales Rocketto before the show. “These pins are more than just a moment on the red carpet. It’s about people standing up and doing what they can to show up to say that ICE needs to be out of our communities.”

Red carpet protest pins

Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens were among the other celebrities who wore protest clothing on the Grammy red carpet.

Justin Vernon, whose band Bon Iver is up for best alternative music album, said he wore a whistle to honor the legal observers who documented the actions of federal agents on the streets.

“I think there’s a reason that music exists and it’s to heal and bring people together,” he told The Associated Press. “But the real job is the ground monitors in Minneapolis. We just want to give them a shout out.”

Earlier in the week, Mexican American singer Becky G had a clear message for ICE on the nails she wore at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala. And at the Sundance Film Festival, many celebrities wore pins that said “ICE OUT” during their red carpet appearances, including Natalie Portman, Olivia Wilde and Zoey Deutch, who also wore a “BE GOOD” pin, referring to Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE officer last month.

Wilde told the AP that he was “horrified by this series of murders that somehow we are legitimate and normal.”

“It’s very difficult to be here and celebrate something so happy and beautiful and positive when we know what’s happening in the streets,” he added. “Americans are in the streets marching and demanding justice, and we’re with them. And if we can do anything on our platforms, you know, we can speak up and demand that ICE get out.”

Portman got emotional when asked about her “ICE OUT” pin at the premiere of her new film, “The Gallerist.”

“I’m very lucky to be here in a happy, creative community celebrating a movie that we’re proud of. But it’s impossible to ignore what ICE is doing in our country. And I’m very inspired, though, by all the amazing, amazing Americans who come out and support each other and are there in the communities. It’s great,” said the actor while crying.

Reasons celebrities can’t talk

As for the Grammys, Morales Rocketto, the community organizer who founded the Latino advocacy group Maremoto, said it’s “kind of a crapshoot” as to who actually wears the pins.

He describes various industrial forces working against artists’ political expression. Objections can come from record companies, managers or corporate partners.

“Maybe the design house that’s doing their fashion deal for the red carpet doesn’t want them to literally rip through the dress,” he said. “There are a million reasons for people not to do it.”

Artists may also face personal risks themselves. Morales Rocketto pointed to the Trump administration’s threats to deport ICE agents in the future Super Bowl halftime performance by Bad Bunny“one of the most invincible” entertainers in his view.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some Latino artists wearing them,” he said of the pins. “But the truth is that just because Latino artists are rich and famous, does not mean that they are exempt from the lack of safety that surrounds many Latinos and Latino families. They themselves may be undocumented or have only a green card or have mixed status families.”

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AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr and AP reporter Brooke Lefferts contributed reporting from Park City, Utah.