At 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 27, Salem-Keizer middle and high schoolers walked out of school to head to the Oregon State Capitol and rally against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (ICE). The rally was led by Latinos Unidos Siempre Youth, (LUSyouth), a youth-led organization in Salem.
Students want to ‘Crush ICE’
Students gathered support from all ages while incense and bubbles filled the air and music surrounded the protesters. McNary student, Imogen Mattson ‘28, held a megaphone and started chants among the crowds.
“Having a voice is something that you need to use and the people that do not have a voice right now need it more than ever,” Mattson said.
Students from all different backgrounds participated at the Capital to show their support. Many held different flags and wrote signs in languages other than English to represent their ethnicity. There were Aztec performers dancing and playing their instruments while protesters cheered.
Music was a major part of the walkout, as children and adults played drums, guitar and blowhorns. Speakers were surrounding the designated area to fill the space with uplifting music. Cars would drive by and honk to show their support for the protesters while adult chaperones would hand out water and snacks.
Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)
President and Executive Director of PCUN, Reyna Lopez, showed support to its sister company, LUSyouth. PCUN is Oregon’s farmer worker union for lantix working families. They work on building a stronger voice for working families in Oregon and have become passionate in helping latinx communities stay safe.
“It is a really intense, really violent, really ugly, massive deportation campaign that this administration campaign has against immigrant families, against anyone who they do not agree with,” Lopez said.
PCUN helps provide security for political events called Turtle Island Security that came out after the Black Lives Matter movement. Lopez recommends finding a trusted organization and ensures that all of these events are safe and well-directed.
“A lot of young folks can not vote yet, right, but they have their voices, they have their bodies, they have their friends and this a really big day to show visibility and to yell at the top of your lungs ‘[****] ice,’” Lopez said.
Lopez emphasizes the importance of preparedness when protesting. She advised taking de-escalation training, coming prepared with signs and finding an organization that resonates with people’s beliefs.
“Find your organizational home,” Lopez said.
She mentioned a variety of groups with different causes like the Sunrise movement, which fights to make climate change a priority in politics. Another group mentioned was the Next Up movement in Portland, which focuses on youth empowerment to create an equitable Oregon.
“Keep coming to these events,” Lopez said.
The Fight Back
Police were in the capital parking lot, surveying the protest with drones and police sirens were heard approaching the capital. They had no intention of coming onto the property unless there was a safety risk from either party.
During the walkout, volunteers who were helping keep the protest safe and organized warned students to cover their faces due to suspected men following and taking pictures of children. A pro-Trump rally emerged next to the rally, but was shooed off by kids throwing water bottles. The volunteers escorted protesters away from the situation.
Next Plans
On May 1, there will be a general strike at the Capital to conclude the end of the Spring season. This means that adults, children, workers and students are all invited to come and participate.
During the time of the walkout, Oregon senators and representatives were inside of the legislative building deciding on next steps for immigrant rights.
“They can hear you all, and they are trying to pass an immigrant justice package which is 12 bills that would all add additional protections and layers to Oregonians against the authoritarian government that we are facing right now,” Lopez said.
