President Donald J. Trump's decision to try to exclude Hispanics from being a part of the U.S. has led to families and communities being torn apart by ICE raids all over the country they hoped would be a place of hope, new beginnings, and a better life.
“Land of the Free” a term used to describe America in its national Anthem, should not be a name to describe a country that will stop at nothing to throw out helping hands within their community just because of where they are originally from or their ethnicity.
We all know the story, but remember that Native Americans were here before English colonizers settled in Jamestown. The current President claims that Hispanics are illegal, but aren’t we all?
This aggression against “illegal” immigrants, in a country that was founded by immigrants who came and stole the land “illegally” by just… taking it from Native inhabitants and claiming it as their own, is illogical, maddening, and terrifying. So what can be done? What should be done?
On Monday, February 3, 2025, many Hispanics stayed home for “A Day Without Immigrants” as an act of resistance to prove how vital to the economy immigrants are. Many people didn't attend school or work. The whole point was not to put money into the economy so the government could see how much immigrants impact America.
The rest of the week featured various protests, walk-outs, and demonstrations aimed at giving voice and power to the threatened immigrant communities.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, many students attending South Central schools decided to participate in walkouts that culminated at City Hall in Downtown LA. Then, on Friday, February 7, 2025, Neuwirth joined the movement (or at least some students from Neuwirth did). At 10:10 (during Nutrition) several Neuwirth scholars walked out of school and joined students from other schools to walk 4.5 miles to City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. They walked proudly: waving flags and posters and representing their families.
Were the walkouts effective? Did they change the world and make America safe for immigrants? No. No single action will ever be enough to overcome the overwhelming power that aims to suppress those voices. As much as the community protests and tries to have their voices heard, it will never be enough because there are people who unfortunately use their power in the White House poorly.
While the current leaders in power are making unnecessary comments or posting ASMR deportation videos, it makes the immigrant communities feel little of themselves. Trump and his associates are doing everything possible to make immigrant communities cower in fear and leave by choice or by force. They sign orders that try to make people “illegal” without any acknowledgment or awareness that they are the ones who are illegal. No One is Illegal on Stolen Land.
This proves that no matter what we do, we will always be ignored by people in power. All of these current petrifying events that are affecting families and communities go against true civilization and all of America’s principles that citizens and leaders have tried to build over the years. We cannot control how they see us or how they treat us. At the end of the day, all we can do as a community is be there for each other and be reminded we are all human and take the opportunities to participate in actions and efforts that we believe will make a positive difference for our people. No one is illegal on stolen land
