In response to recent executive orders passed by President Trump, MSU students came together to march for immigrant solidarity last Thursday.
Culturas de las Razas Unidas (CRU), a Hispanic and Latinx-centered group at MSU, organized this movement titled “Para la Raza” to demonstrate their support for immigration solidarity, meeting in front of the Hannah Administration building before beginning the march and ending inside the Multicultural Center.
As students marched across the streets of MSU, they chanted: “Love, not hate, makes America great.” They also held up signs with messages such as: “No human is illegal on stolen land,” and “Born from dreams that crossed the borders.”
Leeslie Herrera, a second-year master’s student studying cybercrime and digital investigation, is one of the many students who participated in the march to support the cause. For Herrera, this cause hits especially close to home because of her father.
Herrera described herself as a proud daughter of an immigrant parent. “My mom is a U.S. citizen, but my dad is an immigrant from Mexico. My mom was raised in Mexico so this cause has always been very dear to my heart.”
Herrera is passionate about advocating for her community and believes in the importance of advocating for your community during difficult times. “Being in a predominantly white institution and being a minority, I think it’s really important for other students to feel safe, seen, and heard. Not only for the students but for the community around us.”
Christopher Villa, a second-year mechanical engineering student and the CRU Chi-La Representative, further emphasized the importance of advocacy during his speech at Kedzie Hall. He noted that MSU advocacy efforts dated back to the 1960s when “Chicano students began demanding a program that was not only for them but created by them.”
“Chicano students acted because they understood that they had to make their voices heard, and they did so without fear of repercussions,” Villa said. “We can not forget the efforts of these students in the larger context of social justice movements such as the great boycott and solidarity with the United Farm Workers.”
The actions taken by the Trump administration left many students feeling nervous for the future. Rafael Gordillo, a first-year sociology student and CRU’s CORES & COPS Representative, expressed his concerns for the way the Latinx community is being treated in his speech outside of Kedzie Hall.
“Today, we are facing the most intense forms of hate ever seen as a community,” Gordillo said. “We are witnessing the separation of children from their families. We are seeing people being targeted at places of worship, education or the workplace.”
Herrera mentioned how some people might have some bias towards immigrants, however, she said that many immigrants do not come to the United States to do harm.
“I know a lot of immigrant people that are farm workers and are feeding our communities and America, and they are getting paid less than an American would,” Herrera said. “They’re here to work and their sole purpose is to work, create a family and hope that their children get better lives in the future.”
The march ended at the Multicultural Center as students continued chanting and holding up their signs, and some students who were in the building before the march joined the chants. CRU president opened the floor to anyone participating who wanted to speak and a few students took the microphone and shared their story.
The event wrapped up with members of the town hall discussing resources and support available to students, as well as what individuals can do if they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Gordillo encouraged students to remember the importance of community and support in his speech, often saying “Juntos, somos más fuertes,” which translates to: “Together, we are stronger.”
“We will not let hate define us, and we will not remain silent and face justice,” Gordillo said. “We have always been here, and we’ll keep showing up for each other no matter what. Yes, it will be difficult. Yes, he is loud. But we are louder, we are stronger, and we will fight for our people. Together, we are stronger.”
