Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
Community members gathered at the intersection of Jefferson and Van Buren on Friday, Jan. 30 to stand with Minnesota in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Several protests have appeared across the country, including one Thursday evening outside Dallas City Hall with over 500 people in attendance, following the deaths of at least eight people in connection with ICE this year.
Speakers started at the corner outside of Fiesta, across the street from McDonald’s, where they expressed their discontentment with billionaires and the increase of federal agents across the country. Then, dozens of protesters took to the street, marching down West Jefferson Boulevard.
Workers and patrons alike stepped out of the businesses, with cars honking and stopping to take videos of the march.
Servando Rawson, a son of immigrants, said that he was out to protest in order to show up for the community.
“I think being visible has a major impact,” he said. “What we have to do is get out there and get out in the streets and just show that. What we represent and what we have to say. I mean, I think that’s all we can do.”
Judith, one of the organizers who declined to share her last name for her safety, said that this protest was held in Oak Cliff because the neighborhood has roots in resistance.
“This street (Jefferson Boulevard) is full of immigrant businesses, and its full of working class people, and it’s such a hub for immigrants, and so we really felt like if we could have this action at City Hall and have people from Downtown come out, we (also) want to be in the heart of where immigrants are,” she said. “And a lot of the times, immigrants don’t come out to these actions out of fear, and so we felt like being here was the most important thing to show them that we march and we can use our First Amendment right.”
Jamie Rawson said he is out to protest in order to convey the message that enough is enough.
“I am an American. I was raised with true American values, which are, among other things, the principles of our Constitution, including the fact that the president is not to be a tyrant,” he said. “I do not think we have descended into a complete despotic dictatorship, but I do think that it is time for the American people, regardless of their particular political beliefs, to stand up for our Constitution.”
Araceli Gonzalez added that she was also at the protest for more than herself.
“I think showing up and being here is a big part of fighting for our rights. Not just my rights as an American citizen, but rights for people in general,” she said. “I think a lot of what’s happening with the American citizens that have been killed by ICE … ICE has been terrorizing American citizens, and doing everything unconstitutional.”
Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The actions of ICE against American citizens are just one of the reasons people have shown up in protests.
“It’s terrifying, and I just can’t stand for it anymore. I just think there’s a laundry list of sins that are going on in this country,” Rawson added. “We’re moving and separating families and breaking up. And, just scaring our queer folks, trans folks, immigrants. It’s just a strategy to divide us. I just don’t think it’s right, and I want it to stop. It has to stop.”
Friday’s protest was in tandem with a “National Day of Action” which encouraged abstaining from work, school and shopping. Some local businesses and shops in Oak Cliff adjusted operations in solidarity, such as Herby’s Burgers donating 25% of profits from the day to local migrant support organization Vecinos Unidos DFW and Olmo Market and CocoAndré Chocolatier offering free hot chocolates to those who display a protest shirt, banner or sign.
