UTRGV protest against ICE
JJ Garcia, a mass communication sophomore, holds a sign that reads “Immigrants make America great” Monday afternoon at the Lozano-Banco bridge during the “Be the hero walkout” on the Brownsville campus. America Salazar/ Pulse
The community of UTRGV spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Monday on the Edinburg and Brownsville campus by leading a “Be the hero walkout.”
The walkout, co-organized by Austin Garza, education freshman and Diego Alejo, a UTRGV student gathered students and staff to stand out for immigrants being affected by ICE.
Brownsville
Gigi, who did not share her last name, a UTRGV criminal justice freshman, said she attended the protest in representation of Latinos who are working hard to make their voice heard.
For Gigi, protests are proof of progress and that hispanos need to stick together.
“This literally proves that [Hispanos] have a voice, that we have our opinions and no one can degrade us from that,” she said.
Garza led the attendees at noon from the Main Building courtyard across the Student Union and ended the protest back at the Main Building.
Monday’s protest marks the first walkout of the semester for the UTRGV community and students, such as Marco Yerena, a biomedical freshman, who said there needs to be more.
Yerena said as time progresses, Vaqueros will need a group of people to encourage others to speak out for themselves and for those who can’t speak.
“This protest is actually so beneficial for our community because so many of us know someone or live with somebody who might not have, you know, status here in America, might not be documented,” he said.
Edinburg
The protest on the Edinburg campus started at 12:10 p.m. with the crowd chanting, “Power to the people, no one is illegal!”
Anthropology sophomore, Joseph, said “I may not personally agree with quite a few people’s statements, their opinions, but I think what’s special is that they’re exercising their first amendment for free speech.”
He continued by saying it was good that the students are part of an institution that supports their right to freedom of speech.
The chant heard the most was “Fund education, not deportation!”
Throughout the walk, campus police were following the crowd from a distance.
“While people may not like our university police walking by,” Joseph said, “I think it’s good that our police are willing to walk to keep people safe.”
At the end of the walk, the crowd gathered and started thanking everyone for joining the protest.
Isabell Martinez, art junior, delivered a speech on why it is important to be who you are.
“For our own people who hate themselves, we need to show them that there is nothing wrong with being the way you are, being the ethnicity you are,” she said, “together we are strong.”
