On March 3, students walked out of classes to the quad in support of immigrants. Latinos En Acción, a club at American University that advocates for immigrant rights and promotes Latine community on campus, led the walkout. Student leaders guided the crowd in chants and delivered remarks.
The demonstration was part of the “day without immigrants,” a mass protest movement that began in 2017 in response to President Donald Trump’s deportations of undocumented in immigrants, according to an Instagram graphic posted by LEA.
At the end of the walkout, demonstrators walked to the university president’s house to call administration to action.
LEA’s policy recommendations include declaring AU a sanctuary campus, according to an Instagram post about the event made jointly with the American University League of United Latin American Citizens. AU being a sanctuary campus would mean it would refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials under any circumstances.
Tyler Brown-Dewese, a senior and former leader of AU College Democrats, the AU NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha, addressed the crowd. He said he was disappointed that students experienced fear after a man was seen on campus impersonating an ICE agent.
“I don’t think people should have to live in fear to come get a higher education,” he said. “I don’t think people should be sitting in classes, worried if their parents or grandparents are going to get deported.”
Maria Centeno, a first-year student protesting to advocate for immigrant rights, said she came to the walkout because she moved frequently growing up.
“I’ve been constantly an immigrant,” Centeno said. “My parents were never in the US. I came here to study by myself, and I feel like immigrant rights are extremely important.”
Luis Perez, a junior, said LEA has been welcoming to students like him who have struggled to involve themselves with their Latin culture.
“Since the Trump administration, we’re now in a lot of fear to be Latino, to be proud of your identity,” he said. “There’s now a new test, which is not being American enough.”
Teo Nouve, a senior, said he came to the protest because he was passionate about intersectional struggle.
“I feel like now is the time for people to unite across different racial lines, gender lines and class lines in order to fight for the rights of immigrants,” he said.
Damián Lem-Gonzalez, a student at American University, said he is a son of immigrants. He said he came to represent family members at home who could not speak out for fear of retaliation.
“I don’t want to be living in fear.” Lem said. “I don’t want to be living in a community of hate, because that is not who we are.”
Editing by Alexia Partouche.
