In an effort to bring awareness to the suspension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA), the Hispanic Latino Association (HLA) sponsored a protest on Thursday, Oct. 12, lasting two hours on Brock Commons.
During the protest, called “Stand Still To Push For Change,” participants peacefully clogged Brock Commons from 2-4 p.m. while wearing T-shirts reading phrases like “Education, Not Deportation," “#DefendDACA” or “Silence is not an option.”
Protesters included members from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Black Student Association (BSA) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) alongside HLA.
BREAKING: Longwood students currently staging demonstration on Brock Commons to inform campus about DACA pic.twitter.com/bM9o2ZbG3Z
— Longwood Rotunda (@longwoodrotunda) October 12, 2017
HLA member Brenda Pereira said she grew up with family and close friends who are affected by DACA, also known as Dreamers.
“My concern is the way that the media is kind of selling what a DACA recipient looks like. It’s (a) very false narrative and it provokes division within the country,” said Pereira.
According to the National Immigrant Law Center, if an individual is currently a DACA recipient, their DACA and work permit are valid until the expiration date. If the person is a first-time applicant or is renewing a DACA application that was accepted for processing by Sept. 5, the agency will continue to review the application.
If a person’s work permit expires in the six month period from Sept. 5 to March 5 then the DACA recipient can apply for a two-year renewal of DACA if U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services accepts the request by Oct. 5, according to the National Immigrant Law Center.
President Taylor Reveley IV sent out an email addressing the decision on DACA on Sept. 5. In his e-mail, he informed the students, faculty and staff of the university that there is “at most a tiny handful of DACA-affected students” at Longwood.
Pereira was surprised President Reveley sent an e-mail in regards to DACA.
“I feel like he is trying to learn more about the situation. He is open to it, but the fact is that Longwood didn’t have a diversity statement until two semesters ago so Longwood does have a long way to go,” said Pereira.
Madeline Alvarez, Hispanic Latino Association president, said HLA and other people from Citizen Leadership and Social Justice Education came together one day and discussed plans to bring awareness to DACA for Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
“My concern is that they (people affected by DACA) won’t be able to achieve their dreams of what they want to do in life,” said Alvarez.
According to the Quincy Goodine, HLA adviser and Longwood assistant director of community learning engagement, HLA called an immediate meeting the day the suspension of DACA was announced. At the meeting, students started planning events like the protest.
“I am pleased with it (the protest) primarily because I see not just members from the Hispanic Latino Association. I see members from NAACP. I see members from BSA. I see members from NPHC from all different walks of life on campus," said Goodine. "They’re out here supporting and I think that’s what it’s really about."
The Hispanic Latino Association shares with other students how the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) affects those from overseas who are receiving their education in America as well as those who live in America.
The Hispanic Latino Association shares with other students how the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, affects those from overseas who are receiving their education in America as well as those who live in America.
The Hispanic Latino Association shares with other students how the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, affects those from overseas who are receiving their education in America as well as those who live in America.
