Ian Lujan saw fellow students marching across campus with signs and chants advocating, protesting, and standing in solidarity for immigration rights; he joined without a second thought.

The reason?

“I’m so fed up with just sitting… it’s unacceptable to treat people like they’re less than human.”

On Feb.  19, Lujan along with many other students and staff took to the streets on campus for a peace march. 

The peace march started in the Centro Cultural César Chávez, with a briefing before the march from MECHA de OSU. 

Officers from the club spoke about issues such as linguistic justice. After a quick practice of the chants the students and staff took to the street.

Walking a loop through campus they passed by major buildings such as the Memorial Union, Valley Library and the Student Experience Center. 

Onlookers of the march interacted in many ways. Some joined their fellow students, some recorded, and students in Milam Hall joined in the chants from the second and third floor.

“It’s showing that we have support for each other and that there is a community… Now was the time to come together”, said Maria Luiz Cortes, vice president of MECHA. 

Students like Denisse Montoya let their signs do the talking, with messages like “Tenemos que GRITAR lo que tus padres y los míos callan por miedo…” Translating to: “We need to scream what your parents and mine kept silent from fear.”

According to Ashley Mendez, an officer at MECHA, not only did students march for their family and friends, but for the students marching next to them. 

“We wanna show that there’s still community here at OSU… even though we’re the minority here.” Mendez said.

Lesly Maldonado, president of MECHA, said, “We matter, we’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.”