Over 70 University of Missouri students and members of the Columbia community gathered in Speakers Circle on Presidents’ Day for a Unity Rally to protest mass deportations and anti-Latine racism.

The rally was advertised through an Instagram post to the @unity.rally.miz account on Feb. 10, stating that the rally was to take place from noon to 3 p.m. A follow-up post made on Feb. 12 clarified the objectives of the protest, citing mass deportations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and “nationalistic racism against the Latine community” as reasons for organizing. 

The protest was primarily organized by MU senior Piper Molins, president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists at MU. Due to snowfall and below-freezing temperatures, the planned three-hour event was shortened to one and a half hours. Despite the conditions, Molins said the turnout was fabulous. 

“Getting a meeting with very busy students takes time and effort,” Molins said. “So it is definitely a daunting task, but not an impossible one, and I think that’s what I really learned throughout this process.”

To kick off the event, Molins took the stage in front of an audience of students and community members, including representatives of MU student organizations such as the Young Democratic Socialists of America, Missouri Students for Justice in Palestine and NAHJ. Molins introduced guest speaker Jaymes Schrock, the president of local activism non-profit Como Comunidad. 

“I hear a lot from many members of our community … who ask, ‘What do we do? What do we do?’ And what we do requires us to be courageous,” Schrock said. “Like many of you are gathered here, it means being a voice to those who feel like they’re unheard. It means being an advocate for those who are afraid.”

Following Schrock’s speech, Molins gave a brief testimonial on community activism and protest. 

“[Immigrants] are our neighbors, our families, our business owners who put food in our bellies and smiles on our faces,” Molins said. “It is terrifying to do this. Do it scared. Do it anyway. Do it for your loved ones. Do it now.” 

Molins then invited protesters to come up and share their own stories and thoughts surrounding deportations and discrimination. 

“My freshman year, I got heckled out of this huge mansion full of f***ing white dudes … just for speaking Spanish, and what hurts me the most is that since then, not much has changed,” said Ian De Smet Fernandez, a Latino student at the university. “We need to make sure our community is safe, … and that we make sure this is a place free of hate.”

Monica Lee, a community member and immigrant from Korea, spoke in support of the gathering.

“This is a country for my daughter, I will do my best to make it safe,” Lee said. “We are not weak. We are weak as individuals. But as a group, we are very strong.”

During the presentations, one passerby jeered at the crowd with an impression of President Donald Trump.

“I think [resistance] is always to be expected, especially where we’re at,” Molins said. “Keeping it peaceful was of our utmost priority, and I think that we’ve accomplished that.”

After the community speeches, the group marched down Ninth Street, calling out chants in Spanish, such as “Yes, you can” and “The fight continues. You can see it, you can feel it, the people are here.” 

 “This is organized by the Latino organizations on campus that usually don’t delve into politics, but that they saw their community in danger and they saw their community affected by this,” De Smet Fernandez said. “We sometimes do need to have that bravery to take that step outside of our comfort zone and speak up about this.”

The march continued around the Francis Quadrangle, ending in Peace Park where final chants were delivered and protestors were invited to meet at La Calle 8 Cafe– a local immigrant-owned coffee shop.

“El luche sigue, the fight continues, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon,” Molins said. “Racial justice is not a race to the finish line, it’s a relay. So, what we have started here I hope other people pick up on and continue with and bring forward.”

Edited by Eric Hughes | ehughes@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com 

Edited by Claire Nguyen | clairetnguyen@missouri.edu

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com