Arizona immigration law provokes open protest

By James Hill III

With signs raised, outraged students protested Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which critics say legalizes racial profiling.

The open-microphone rally last Friday, organized by MEChA and the Labor Action Committee of the Santa Clara Community Action Program, was held outside of Benson Memorial Center in the Free Speech Zone.

It would have normally taken place in order to call attention to May Day's International Day of the Worker on May 1.

But this year it took on extra meaning because of the emotions flaring in response to Arizona's bill.

The controversial measure allows police officers to stop people and demand citizenship identification if they are suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

Sophomore Jose Dorador was one of many student speakers to lead the crowd in a chant of "Si se puede," or "Yes we can," as cameras from NBC and Telemundo rolled.

Former Director of the LAC J.T. Harechmak described the rally of May Day as one "to celebrate the struggles workers have been engaged in to earn their rights."

"There were lots of things for people to be really upset about," he said.

Various students at the rally held signs reading "we are not criminals," "no human being is illegal" and "stop the raids" while others carried posters with similar messages. Additionally, SCCAP and MEChA distributed pieces of fabric with "Si se puede" and "no human is illegal" spray painted on the back.

SCCAP Director Amanda Sobrepeña called the event a "huge collaboration" that was "fixed the night before" due to new events SCAAP had to take into account. She pointed out that the event was "put on by students, for students," adding "it's up to our generation to spread awareness and educate people on issues of social justice."

Senior Jose Arreola, director of the Multicultural Center, helped to organize the events of Immigration Week and was also one of the many speakers at the rally.

He discussed events that took place during the week: a week filled with tabling and petition writing, Wednesday's "artificial border" in Benson and subsequent discussion in the St. Clare Room and the Day of Silence on Thursday.

In his speech, Arreola told the crowd - anywhere from 20-45 people, depending on the time of the day - that "we all have a connection to the immigration story."

Students walked in and out of Benson throughout the rally, and while some stayed for the duration of the event, others only watched one or two speakers and then left to go about their daily business.

Sophomore Adriana Hernandez took note of the cycle of people at the rally, saying that it was "good to see so many people support (the rally), though I wish more of the Santa Clara community showed the same support." She said she was "livid and disgusted with the passage of the bill."

Harechmak also advocated, with the many other speakers at the rally, for the passage of the Dream Act, a bill currently floating in the Senate that would grant the children of immigrants a route to further education and citizenship.

"The beautiful thing about this is that it's been open-microphone for the last hour and a half," said Anna Paustenbach, empowerment department coordinator for SCCAP.

One of the students on the open microphone speakers' list was freshman Alex Pineda, who delivered an impassioned speech that paraphrased President Obama.

"This is our time," he said addressing fellow Latinos in attendance. "(It's) our time to lead, our time to turn the pages of history and create a more hopeful future. (It's) our time to stand up, face the racists, the bigots and the oppressors and yell, 'Enough is enough.'"

Pineda said if he had a chance to speak with the authors of the bill or Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, he would actually thank them for "the opportunity to change the course of history, giving us the passion to move forward and being the rock for the avalanche."

As the rally continued into its third hour, Sarah Bradley, program coordinator for the LAC, asked "Arizona, who are you?"

"This bill mandates discrimination," she said.

The heated debate on SB 1070 won't be slowing down anytime soon, and Santa Clara students and organizations will assuredly be at the forefront of any local political efforts.

Contact James Hill III at jhill@scu.edu or (408) 554-4546.