Viridiana Hernandez
Viridiana Hernandez (Viri) has first-hand experience of the challenges undocumented residents, youth and women of color face in Arizona. Viri’s story is intertwined with Arizona’s story; she lived in fear for 23 years during infamous Sheriff Arpaio’s raids and anti-immigrant laws becoming the norm in the state. In 2010, Viri was moved into action after the passage of the “show me your papers” law, SB1070. Since then, she has led efforts against state violence, focused on the crimmigration system and policing. Viriis now the Executive Director of Poder in Action, a grassroots organization focused on building community power to disrupt and dismantle systems of oppression and determine a liberated future for people of color and working families in Arizona.