Demonstrators protest against ICE, police brutality on campus
Protesters march around the UTRGV Student Union Quad in observance of National Protest Against Police Brutality Day Thursday afternoon on the Edinburg campus. Julian J. Salazar/ Pulse Magazine
Earlier today, more than two dozen people took to the Quad on the Edinburg campus to take part in a demonstration in observance of National Protest Against Police Brutality Day, mainly rallying against ICE.
The Youth Democratic Socialists of America, along with other organizations, hosted the protest where organizers discussed recent incidents involving ICE, including one in Alamo.
Demonstrators marched across campus, wearing masks and holding signs in protest of ICE and police brutality. Some chants shouted included, “Good laws don’t need cops” and “Say it once, say it twice we will not put up with ICE.”
The leader of the protest, UTRGV philosophy junior who identified themselves as Clark, said the organization tries to canvas on campus and push people to join organizations so they can become more educated on current events.
“We’ll just keep being that person who won’t shut up,” Clark said. “There are a lot of people like laughing at us and I think this just shows how voting is not enough.”
Clark added the organization’s efforts would be pointless if the reasons behind it were not worth it. She added it is important to vote but that may not be enough.
Valeria Garza, integrated health science freshman and member of the UTRGV College Democrats, said she is in favor of the protest because the Rio Grande Valley consists mostly of a Mexican population. ICE being more involved means there is a need for people to protest, Garza said.
A criminal justice senior, who asked to be referred to as Tammy, said police brutality is a systematic problem that happens all the time.
“They don’t consider us as people; they consider us as property,” Tammy said.
She added police brutality goes back to slavery and the massacre of Native Americans, stating it has always been in a system put in place to oppress people.
“It has always been about repressing people despite … what they want to label it,” she said.
Alongside the event on campus, there were other protests held across the country advocating against police brutality.
