“No Justice, No Peace, No ICE in our Streets!”

By Nolan Locke and Summer Tyler

At around 12:08 p.m. on Friday, 18 students gathered near the clock tower to participate in a protest.

Jamie Kraft, a junior dance major, organized the event, along with other Conservatory of Dance students. Kraft posted a flyer on Instagram Thursday night to try to get students involved in striking against the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, and to remember the individuals who have been killed during ICE raids and protests.

A flyer posted to Instagram promoting Fridays protest (Photo via Instagram)

The nationwide strike planned to take place on Jan. 30 was organized by University of Minnesota student groups, and is a continuation of the statewide strike that happened in Minnesota on Jan. 23. Organizers of the general strike asked individuals to refrain from going to work, school and to avoid purchasing anything to create a nationwide economic blackout, and to give people the chance to participate in local protests against ICE.

“I’m from Minneapolis,” said Kraft, “and we had a very successful statewide strike last week in protest of ICE. This strike is being put on by student organizers from Minnesota. I really wanted to make sure we had something here on campus that was accessible to students cause I know some feel unsafe going to the city or don’t have the resources to get to the city to protest.”

Fouad Farran holding handmade signs (Photo by Summer Tyler)

Many students at the protest emphasized the importance of community and togetherness.

“For me, it’s really important to stick together with my community,” Kraft said. “It can be easy to feel helpless in times like these, but it’s hard to feel that way when you’re surrounded by a whole community of people.”

Around 50 students gathered around the clock tower by 12:20 p.m., with some holding signs that read “I prefer my ICE crushed” and “Love melts ICE.” The students began the protest by chanting “No justice, no peace, no ICE in our streets” and “What do we want? Ice out. When do we want it? Now.”

Students chant in protest while holding handmade signs (Photo by Jordan Pommells)

The group of students followed Kraft in repeating the names of those who have been killed during ICE raids and protests back to them. The students eventually formed a giant circle, and each student expressed to the group why they were there, some sharing personal anecdotes of what being present at this protest meant to them.

Junior anthropology major Matthew Monteiro echoed this sentiment, saying, “I believe community organizing is all we have. We have to get together with people and rally around each other.”

Some students also offered advice for those on campus who may feel uneasy. “If you see something suspicious, tell someone, say something. If you know someone who may feel nervous, warn them. It’s important to look out for others,” said Fred Durocher, a sophomore playwriting and screenwriting major.

For Max Rufasto, a sophomore theatre and performance major, protesting felt more personal, “I grew up with a family of immigrants,” said Rufasto. "I was the firstborn here. My stepfather, he’s an immigrant, and he has done a lot for my mom. To see him live in fear every day, not knowing if he is home safe or not, it really makes me anxious. I have to text him every night, saying ‘hey did you make it home?’ To see all this pain brought on to my community is sickening and I am tired of acting like we can't do anything about it.”

Students embracing one another during the protest (Photo by Jordan Pommells)

The protest ended around 1:15 p.m. as students disbanded.

When asked about the protests being held on school grounds, Purchase College assistant director of public relations Betsy Aldridge said that the school was aware of the protests, as well as “students have a constitutional right to express their views in a peaceful manner as long as they follow the policies in place.”