Editor’s Note: The usage of Hispanic, Latino/a/e/x and Chicano/a/e/x is in accordance with the preference and language of the sources and/or organizations included in this story.
Sacramento State students gathered in the Library Quad Monday in support of a “Latino Rights and Dignity” protest organized by MEChA. Speakers at the protest, which included students, faculty and elected officials, insisted that the university administration resist the demands of President Donald Trump, regarding immigration policies
MEChA, short for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano De Aztlán, is a Chicano student organization at Sac State that promotes “empowerment and unity” within the greater Chicano community.
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Jamarie Crawford, a second-year political science major, is the current political chair of MEChA. He was also both the primary organizer and a speaker at the protest.
“We came here today because it’s important for us to speak up and speak out about what’s happening,” Crawford said. “Especially everything that’s happening now concerning immigration and Latinos.”
Since taking office in January, Trump’s administration has gone to great lengths in order to deliver on one of his primary campaign promises that he would “launch the largest deportation program in American history.” Critics such as Crawford argue that such programs disproportionately place targets on unwitting Latinx individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re an immigrant or not,” Crawford said. “They’re still going to treat you the same way.”
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has come under scrutiny due to numerous cases of United States citizens being detained, arrested and held in custody for multiple days at a time. As of now, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE since January.
Representatives from other student-run organizations were also present at the event, such as third-year political science major Colin Haskin, president of College Democrats at Sac State. He held a sign that read, “I like my ICE crushed” on one side and “Alexa abolish ICE” on the other.
“There’s been an attack on our neighbors, on our friends, on our family,” Haskin said. “We want to make sure we’re protecting our international community.”
Samantha Castellanos, a fourth-year health science major, said she felt it was important for the community to come together against the Trump administration’s actions, citing the Alameda protest as one of the reasons she joined the rally. She said that she believes America is a community of immigrants, and everyone is connected.
Castellanos said she felt that students and community members should take action before certain issues directly impact them. She said that everyone is human, and the privilege that comes with documentation should be used to help others.
“At some point, it’s going to bite [people] in the ass, you know?” Castellanos said. “This is still your community. Don’t forget your roots.”
While Haskin said he was in agreement with MEChA’s demands that university’s leadership should release a statement denouncing the federal government’s treatment of Latino communities, he said that more needs to be done.
“I think we need to take things a step further,” Haskin said. “We have sanctuary cities. Why not sanctuary campuses?”
Sanctuary cities often have local laws and policies that limit the enforcement of federal immigration law, in effort to protect people with varied immigration status. Until recently, immigration enforcement was limited in schools, under a Biden administration precedent that was overridden by the current Department of Homeland Security.
The protest hosted several speakers, including students from MEChA, Sac State faculty and local elected officials. Among them was Sacramento city councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra, who led the crowd in chants after his speech.
“Educación, no deportación,” Guerra said, decrying the presence of ICE in schools.
After speeches concluded, protesters marched from the Library Quad to Sacramento Hall, which houses the Student Service Center and serves as the administrative building for the campus
Participants shouted chants proclaiming, “No fear. No hate. No ICE at Sac State,” before returning to the Library Quad to enjoy a short dance session featuring music from Chicano culture, like “Payaso de Rodeo” by Caballo Dorado.
Christopher, who requested to keep his last name anonymous, is a first-year anthropology major and member of MEChA. He said it hurts to see people getting racially profiled and deported without a warrant.
He said it is disgusting and painful to see that people and children are being abducted from their homes and families.
“I don’t know how it doesn’t break your heart,” Christopher said. “I don’t know how it doesn’t break everybody’s heart.”
According to Christopher, MEChA is hoping to see a published statement of support for the Latinx community from Sac State by December, otherwise more protests are to come.
Additional reporting by Lizeth Tello
