A number of student organizations rallied to organize a rally for immigrant and anti-racist justice in front of the Allen Street Gate on Monday.
Sponsoring organizations included the Penn State Latino Caucus, Penn State Palestine Justice Students (SJP), Penn State Socialist Union (USPSU), and Penn State Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Caucus.
Sergio Veresico, vice president of the Latin American Caucus, emphasized the importance of confronting racism and discrimination in light of recent events on campus.
“The reason behind this event was to organize it around (recognizing) the national position of Immigration Day,” said Vereshko, who declined to reveal his grade or major for privacy reasons. Ta. “We also wanted to organize this rally because of the growing anti-immigrant and racist sentiment around campus, so we can all unite against racism and discrimination in all its forms.” I wanted to stand up to you.”
The streets were filled with chants such as “Say it loud and say it clearly: Immigrants are welcome here” and “Power to the people, no one is illegal.” Participants also held signs that read, “No more deportations, fight for liberation,” “No more hate against Penn State,” and “Get rid of the racists.”
State College, Pennsylvania, speaks at the Latino Caucus Rally for Immigration and Anti-Racist Justice held at the Allen Street Gates in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Monday, October 21, 2024. Mr. Sergio Peña.
Samantha Oropeza
How Penn State students have the power to stop the spread of racism and discrimination against immigrants and minorities in University Park, says Sergio Peña, co-organizer of the Latin American Caucus talked about.
“When it comes to immigration in particular, we’ve seen all the photos and footage taken in immigrant detention centers on the southern border of the United States…the harm (and) to which all types of immigrants are exposed,” Dr. Peña, a second year student, says: He said he is studying communication arts and science. “And we need people like students and community members to come together and find ways to organize against these systems that harm the most vulnerable in our society.”
While the rally’s focus was on immigration and anti-racist justice, the event also demonstrated concrete support for the Palestinian people.
Additional chants included, “We want justice, you say, ‘How?'” Stop Bombing Gaza Now”, “From Palestine to Mexico, All These Walls Must Come Down”, “From Gaza to Beirut, Liberation is Our Roots”.
People gather to support the Latino Caucus Rally for Immigrant and Anti-Racist Justice at Allen Street Gates on Monday, October 21, 2024, in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Samantha Oropeza
Peña further explained the meaning behind their pro-Palestinian chants and how it relates to the United States.
“Surveillance infrastructure developed in Palestine was completed in the region and exported to the United States for use at the southern border of the United States,” Peña said. “So the chant, ‘From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls must come down,’ is a reflection of the system and how it is used to oppress people. is.”
USPSU President Luke Gosnell said his group is participating in the rally to hold Penn State accountable.
“One of our main goals as a student body is to build a Penn State that serves people, and as it stands now, Penn State is unable to do that,” said Gosnell, a fourth-year philosophy and political science student. It hasn’t happened,” he said. “The example given in the speech (during the rally) is that next Monday at the Milo Yiannopoulos event, Penn State will pay Mr. Yiannopoulos more than that amount, $15,000, to come speak. is.”
A student holds a sign during the Latino Caucus Rally for Immigrant and Anti-Racist Justice on Monday, October 21, 2024, at the Allen Street Gate in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Samantha Oropeza
I wasn’t at the rally, but just before the rally, a group of about 10 people posted signs saying things like “Send food, not bombs,” “Seek peace and pursue it,” and “Let Gaza live.” A rally was held where cards were held up in silence.
Kate Heinzel, pastor of Mennonite Collegiate Church, said the group was started last October.
“This is our 53rd week of coming out here every Monday. We’re just holding space because we believe that every human being has dignity and deserves to live. ” Heinzel said. “We speak to anyone who comes, but we strive to create a space that bears witness to the suffering of the world.”
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