Students and community members gathered April 16 in front of the Memorial Union at 1 p.m. in protest for immigration rights. 

With the sun shining down on them, the rally began with the organizers giving three speeches, the first speech detailing some rules for the protest. They asked onlookers to avoid photos and videos to protect the privacy of the protesters. 

An organizer brought up the 13 students whose visas were revoked a week ago. “Don’t speculate about who they are, don’t share their names without their permission,” she said. “We also want to say that we appreciate that OSU is defending its students and offering resources and joining the legal fight against these attacks on students. We want to encourage OSU to continue the fight for their students.” 

The next speaker was Donovan, an organizer from MECHA, or Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán; he took to the MU stairs and continued the outcry for the 13 international students. 

“We now face the force of the current federal administration here at OSU, 13 international students have gotten their visas revoked, not one, not two, but 13 students who came here to this university for the knowledge and experiences of the incredible professors here at this university, 13 student who added so much to this community,” Donovan said. 

The final speech before the march began was given by Masha Mogylevsky, ASOSU vice president elect with demands for OSU admin and the country’s administration.

“I’m proud to stand here with students, organizers, and community members because we are in the middle of yet another fight for our right to exist. Right now, international students across the country and our campus are facing the threat of losing their visas, their education and their communities,” Masha said. “Here are the demands I would like to make right now: One, I demand that OSU make a public and unwavering stance to protect international students from visa related removals and not just policy. Two, I demand that the university provides legal and financial support for students navigating this crisis, including emergency housing and tuition relief. I want to ask OSU to commit to keeping this campus free of ICE collaboration and work actively to keep law enforcement away from our immigration status.”  

Signs and chants displayed the rally’s message loud and clear as students shouted their discontent with lines such as “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE” and “ Education not deportation.” Participants chose to share their message with signs and slogans such as “Fight Fascists”, “Melt ICE”, “Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants” and “Respect my existence or expect my resistance” to stand in solidarity.

Starting at the MU Quad, the march passed major locations on campus such as the Learning Innovation Center, Student Experience Center and Valley Library, turning around at Furman Hall and causing the march to gain additional students, honking cars and curious eyes from onlookers. 

“This is good, bringing some awareness to it… I don’t dive into the news but I know there’s been a lot, even my parents are trying not to be outside because there’s a lot of immigration things going on,” said onlooker Sebastian Escalante. 

Another onlooker, Jonathan Messier, said “If even half of what I hear is true… people being deported… People have a right to be freaked out, and it makes sense for them to freak out.”