Students and community members rallied Tuesday on the 1100 block of Commercial St. to protest the rescinding of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
“We really want to show support for the dreamers that are here,” said Jessie Stallings, associate professor in counselor education. “We want to continue to show support in conjunction with what the university has said already about helping them finish their education no matter what and doing what they can to help them stay here.”
There are 12,000 people in Kansas that are currently eligible for DACA, with 8,000 immediately eligible and approximately 5,000 eligible in the future, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
The group, made up of about 40 people, was organized last week by Rochelle Rowley, assistant professor of sociology anthropology, and crime and deliquincey studies.
They had a permit from the Emporia Police Department that authorized them to publicly protest from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., in front of Ellen Plumb’s City Bookstore, 1122 Commercial St.
“We found it would be easier to do the rally in the community so we organized it for today and it looks like there’s a good show up,” Rowley said.
Due to her ESU employment contact, Rowley was unable to attend the protest as planned. Rowley instead brought her Social Stratification class to observe from across the street.
“I was informed (by the department chair) that since I normally teach at 11, that it would be illegal employee activity if I was part of the rally,” Rowley said.
Alfredo Montalvo, chair of the sociology, anthropology and crime and delinquency studies, could not comment due to it being a personnel matter.
Throughout the duration of the rally, those in attendance chanted a variety of sayings, expressing their dissatisfaction with President Trump’s decision to end DACA.
“Respect existence or expect resistance” and “education not deportation,” were among the many chants that the group repeated.
“I’m here to support DACA, to be mindful that humanity values come first,” said Emily Velazquez, a senior political science major who attended the rally.
“It’s important,” said Mesa Weidenbach, freshman political science major. “The people it directly affects can’t stand up for fear of being deported, so it’s up to me to stand up for it.”
