2008 Woodie Awards
Five College Students, Community Members Demonstrate for Immigrant Rights
Katie Chase
Issue date: 4/13/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On Monday, April 10 at Amherst College, Five College students and community members attended a demonstration to show solidarity with illegal immigrants and to show opposition to HR4337. If passed, this bill would authorize the construction of a 700-mile fence along the Mexican border, criminalize anyone who provides assistance to illegal immigrants and make illegal immigration a felony.
The protest was organized by La Causa, a student group at Amherst, and coincided with the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice. Protests have been occurring all across the nation and the group wanted to raise awareness of the cause on campus. La Causa also organized a screening of the documentary "Walk the Line," as well as a lecture which occurred later that day.
Between noon and 1:30 p.m., the protesters joined hands to form a human wall outside of Valentine Dining Hall, the main dining hall on Amherst's campus. Though they left a space for people to enter and exit the building, some were upset by the obstruction that the protest caused. At the peak of the protest, organizers estimate that about 100 people were involved. Some protesters read poetry and spoke to the crowd, and petitions in support of immigrant rights were also handed out.
Several Smith students attended the protest, and they are now trying to educate the Smith community on the issue of illegal immigration. The students who attended the protest organized an informal meeting in Gillett's dining room during lunch on Tuesday and invited students to come and discuss the issues surrounding the debate.
A Five College coalition has formed that will organize a rally on May 1, a national day of protest for immigrant rights. The group will meet every Monday until May 1, and will have a meeting at Smith on Monday, April 17. Anyone interested in the coalition should email lacausa@amherst.edu for more information.
Read about one student's experiences at the L.A. protests in Features, Page 4.
The protest was organized by La Causa, a student group at Amherst, and coincided with the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice. Protests have been occurring all across the nation and the group wanted to raise awareness of the cause on campus. La Causa also organized a screening of the documentary "Walk the Line," as well as a lecture which occurred later that day.
Between noon and 1:30 p.m., the protesters joined hands to form a human wall outside of Valentine Dining Hall, the main dining hall on Amherst's campus. Though they left a space for people to enter and exit the building, some were upset by the obstruction that the protest caused. At the peak of the protest, organizers estimate that about 100 people were involved. Some protesters read poetry and spoke to the crowd, and petitions in support of immigrant rights were also handed out.
Several Smith students attended the protest, and they are now trying to educate the Smith community on the issue of illegal immigration. The students who attended the protest organized an informal meeting in Gillett's dining room during lunch on Tuesday and invited students to come and discuss the issues surrounding the debate.
A Five College coalition has formed that will organize a rally on May 1, a national day of protest for immigrant rights. The group will meet every Monday until May 1, and will have a meeting at Smith on Monday, April 17. Anyone interested in the coalition should email lacausa@amherst.edu for more information.
Read about one student's experiences at the L.A. protests in Features, Page 4.