“No hate, no fear; immigrants are welcome here.” These words rang out on Friday as more than three dozen students marched across Bradley’s campus, raising their voices in support of the immigrant community.
The demonstration, organized by Bradley’s Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), called attention to the impact of recent U.S. immigration policies on students and their families. These policies, enacted by the U.S. government since President Donald Trump took office, have sparked concern nationwide, including within the Bradley community.
Carrying signs with messages like “Fight ignorance, not immigrants,” “Human rights have no borders” and “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention,” students marched from the Circle of Pride to the Renaissance Coliseum and back.
For many participants, the cause was not only political but deeply personal.
“This affects everyone. It may not feel like it affects you directly, but whether it’s someone you know, someone you love, your friends or someone on campus … it’s affecting a lot of people in the country, and eventually, it’ll affect you,” Kalie Tison, a sophomore secondary English education major, said.
Tison, who works in a classroom with a Palestinian student, held a sign that read, “My students should feel safe at school, not anxious.”
ALAS President Gigi Prado led the march and spoke about the organization’s mission.
“The only thing we want to do today is promote unity between all our students and show that they aren’t alone in the way they’ve been feeling,” Prado, a senior middle school mathematics education major, said. “We’ve all been feeling the same way.”
Also among those marching was Lindsey Cervantes, a freshman biomedical sciences pre-med major.
“My parents were immigrants, and I think it’s really important that people know that we are kids of immigrants, and we work just as hard as people who do have citizenship,” Cervantes said. “If not, we work even harder.”
“People are human beings, and they shouldn’t be treated like they’re aliens,” Cervantes added.
Cervantes represents a significant demographic in the United States. As of 2023, over 47.8 million immigrants live in the U.S., making it home to more immigrants than any other country according to the Migration Policy Institute. Additionally, one in four children lives with at least one immigrant parent.
“America was literally founded on immigrants, and the American dream is that everyone is equal here,” Lesley Arce, a freshman nursing major, said. “We are on stolen land, and people like to forget about that.”
For Arce, attending the walkout was a way to make her voice heard.
“I’m literally begging everyone to listen,” Arce said.
By the end of the event, ALAS leaders expressed gratitude for the turnout and solidarity shown by their peers.
“I’m just really happy with the turnout,” said ALAS Community Service Chair Lucia Enciso. “I’m happy that people at Bradley care.”
Moving forward, ALAS plans to continue using its platform to promote awareness and advocate for change.
“Don’t be afraid to use your voice,” Prado said. “It’s the one thing that everyone has a right to, regardless of immigration status.”
