For some students, spring semester has meant a tad more than cramming for finals and thirsty Thursdays. When many have looked the other way, students groups have mobilized and advocated for those whose voices have gone unheard.On Yale’s campus, as Arizona Senate Bill 1070 became a reality, several students decided to stage a mock raid. During a seemingly normal lunch period, students dressed in uniforms, aggressively arrested students, and asked random witnesses to show their identification. The demonstration sparked awareness, and more organizations joined their initial coalition.
And last week, students organized a teach-in, which was devised in a similar fashion to the mock raid. The students set up the area to resemble the unjust treatment of illegal immigrants; a large canvas tent with mattresses as seats was surrounded by chicken wire. Unlike most student-run demonstrations, a series of high profile professors spoke and passionately emphasized the importance of protesting this bill. Alejandro Gutierrez, a freshman at Yale, and one of the organizers said, “I fear that dehumanizing migrants will become the norm, and I fear for the future of my family. That is why I feel the need to act, and educate others on what is going on in Arizona.”
Posted via web from Firesaw
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