Her action has been compared to other acts of resistance around the world and has motivated Americans to peacefully continue their movement against ICE’s actions.
“From Portugal, we love this Queen!
Amazing, it’s always women stepping up!
From Canada. Where the fuck are the men – Period.
She is an American heroine.
From Australia, go girl, this is the American people at their best.
I would totally wear a polka dot dress. Let’s have a national polka dot dress day.”
These are just a few of the thousands of comments Parriva has received from the broadcast of a woman wearing a polka dot dress who bravely confronted ICE agents in New York.
Her behavior has been compared to other acts of resistance around the world and has motivated Americans to peacefully continue their movement against ICE’s actions.
Photos and videos from the scene show the woman, wearing a demure blue and white polka-dot dress and blue blazer, staring down an armored police vehicle while calmly flipping double birds, purse slung over her left arm.
In another video, the unidentified woman can be seen tussling with a man wearing a tactical vest before stepping back to adjust her purse.
A different angle appears to show her intervening in that instance to calm tensions between the vest-wearing man and a third protester.
A separate photo shows her flipping the bird once more as the same man, presumably an ICE officer, appears to grimace in resignation and walk in the opposite direction.
Shouts of “shame!” and “show your face!” follow.
“Polka-dot dress lady” received plaudits online.
“One woman in a polka-dot dress showing more courage than half of Congress ever will,” read one response on Bluesky. Another read,
“Motto of the day- Be the Lady in the polka dot dress. Stand up to bullies and give them a two finger salute.”
The woman, like many of the protesters, appeared to be on her way home from work when she encountered the federal agents wearing tactical gear.
