Students gathered at the Multicultural Center early Monday morning to travel downtown and participate in the March for a Moratorium on Deportations. Coordinated primarily by members of Alianza, the group hoped to take a stand against what they believe are unjust deportations occurring in this country.
The march took place at the Richard J. Daley Center and started at 11 a.m. It was organized by the Latino Union of Chicago, an initiative that collaborates with low-income immigrant workers to develop tools needed to improve social and economic conditions.
Alianza members made signs for the protest Sunday night after their general meeting. Members of the organization shared stories about how immigration issues have directly affected them as many members are from neighborhoods with high Latino and illegal immigrant populations. Police often come into these neighborhoods and conduct raids, where they take in illegal immigrants and put them into detention facilities.
“It’s about justice and it’s the right thing to do,” said Communication junior Lucia Leon, co-president of Alianza. “It personally affects us because of family members and friends who are maybe being deported because of their citizenship status.”
Leon hoped to see other people in higher education at the event supporting the cause and to see solidarity from people in Chicago.
“[Illegal immigrants] are constantly living in fear," Leon said. "It’s a human rights concern. They shouldn’t dread opening their front door.”