On
Aug. 17 immigrant and undocumented youth engaged in militant protest
and direct action at a Homeland Security public hearing. They came
out to demand an end to the agency’s racist war on immigrants.
At
a public hearing for the Secure Communities Act in Chicago, over 400
people came out to oppose the large-scale round ups of immigrants
currently taking place—round ups which the federal government is
trying to escalate. Under
the law, fingerprints of anyone who is arrested are sent to Homeland
Security and can lead to deportation.
Protesters
arrived an hour before the hearing and shared their experiences
regarding Secure Communities Act at the Haymarket memorial. They then
marched to the hearing, chanting, “Undocumented,
Unafraid!”
When
the cops closed the doors to the hearing, leaving dozens of people
outside, the people chanted, “Send the cops out, let the people
in!” There was then a walk-out led by youth and students.
Alla
Mukahhal lead the walk out at the hearing and said, “Sometimes
words are not enough, hearings are not enough, press conferences and
speeches are not enough. I am here today with my undocumented
friends, because there comes time when we need to take greater
action. We are tired of fear, and today, today we will break that
fear from Secure Communities.”
The
protesters took over the streets outside the hearing, blocking
intersections and marching to the nearest highway exit at Jefferson
and Washington Streets where they shut the exit down.
Six
students from the Immigrant Youth Justice League were arrested at the
highway exit. Carla Navoa, one of the students arrested, said, “If
I could get across one thing to an undocumented student it would be
to stand up to the injustices by sitting here with me in the
streets.”
The
Party for Socialism and Liberation stands with the students in their
efforts to fight against Homeland Security’s racist policies. The
policies that tear families apart and deny education must be fought
until they are ended.
