'It's really unity': Students, staff gather to protest Chancellor's ICE compliance

Approximately 150 students and staff gathered in front of South Building on Wednesday to rally against Chancellor Lee Roberts’ announcement stating UNC will comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials seeking undocumented students on campus. 

The demonstration was organized by 20 cultural affinity and social justice groups, including Students United for Immigrant Equality, UNC AMEXCANand TransparUNCy. 

Roberts’ announcement was released on Jan. 24, after the Trump administration removed a policy which had previously prevented immigration arrests from occurring on school campuses. 

The rally began at 3 p.m. Several demonstrators stood on the steps of South Building and delivered speeches related to the immigrant experience. Many of the attendees wore masks and carried national flags for countries such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Colombia. 

A student organizer for the rally, who requested to remain anonymous for security reasons, said the demonstration was intended to empower joint immigrant communities into one collective entity and express discontent with Roberts. 

“It's really unity,” the student organizer said. “I think it is the power we have together as a group of students, and I think acknowledging feeling emboldened by that encourages people to know that there are people here who have their back.”

Aaliyah Simon, first-year student at UNC, said it can often be hard to find community on campus as a Hispanic student, especially finding people who share similar values and beliefs. However, she said she thinks students who are Caribbean, Hispanic or Palestinian have been able to support each other better by attending the protest. 

“People from all parts of the road and all types of ethnicities coming together and fighting for this cause, I feel like it kind of makes you feel more at home,” Simon said.

Simon, who said her parents are from Mexico and the Dominican Republic, brought a Dominican flag to the demonstration while one of her friends brought a Mexican flag. She said it was heart-warming to be able to exchange and carry the flags of other people. 

“Your flag is your pride,” she said. “Carrying that is the biggest sign of pride that you could carry.”

At approximately 3:45 p.m., demonstrators played music and began to dance together in front of South Building. 

Simon, who joined the dance, said various types of music were played, including merengue, a genre from the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny's song "LA MuDANZA." She said ultimately, she hopes the campus community will continue to learn more about other people’s cultures. 

“It's important to be educated,” Simon said. “It’s important to be willing to be open-minded and partake in things that will help other people feel seen and heard.”

In an email statement to The Daily Tar Heel, UNC Media Relations said the University is currently monitoring all new executive orders and directives to determine further actions. 

“Regarding the demonstration, the University is committed to providing an inclusive and flourishing environment for free speech and expression consistent with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Section 14 of the North Carolina State Constitution,” Media Relations wrote. 

Roberts wrote in a letter to the North Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union that the University will do everything that can be done to support the 3,000 international students and scholars present at UNC. 

Madeline, a student attendee who requested The Daily Tar Heel only use only her first name, said she thinks there is fear on campus, especially for immigrants and people who use visas. She said attending the protest helps show that there are people willing to support each other. 

“Some people may feel like they can't speak out or can't discuss their stories or cultures,” Madeline said. “I am glad this is a space where people can.”

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