By The Keystone Newspaper Fear grows over government use of detention centers
By Alex Lock and John Mahoney
KU Students Lead Anti-ICE Protest
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, approximately one dozen KU students marched across campus to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as student fears grow over government use of detention centers.
KU students gathered on the DMZ and walked around campus for two hours, from the dormitories to the library.
The gathering was held in response to ICE activity in cities like Minneapolis. Attention to ICE enforcement techniques were amplified on campus by the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents. The students felt drawn to come together to mourn the loss of Good and Pretti, and other victims who have not been covered extensively by news outlets.
The march officially began at 2:15 p.m., but the students who arrived early exchanged thoughts about recent incidents with ICE and the Trump Administration.
One student, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned a recent incident in Oregon where federal officers utilized chemical weapons such as tear gas on peaceful protesters in Portland. According to an article from Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), this event occurred on Saturday, Jan. 31. Families, children, and the elderly suffered in the attack.
“An administration who retaliates with force against peaceful protestors is not an administration I could ever support,” the student said.
Many students made cardboard signs that depicted such phrases as “Melt the ICE,” “No one is illegal on stolen land” and “I like my ICE crushed.”
Those who arrived early and helped to organize the effort had learned of the coordinated event through word of mouth or online platforms like Yik Yak. Some students even joined the line of protestors after seeing their peers’ display. A few students mentioned feeling empowered by utilizing their First Amendment right to organize and assemble.
One student by the name of Fahima claimed that this was her first time engaging in a student-led protest. Because this event was on campus and attended by her fellow classmates, she felt inspired to join. She acknowledged that it felt good to speak out on a wider issue facing the nation.
“I thought the protest was a success,” KU freshman Fahima said. “There were not as many people as I thought there would be, but it was still enough.”
Anxiety Grows Over Berks County Detention Center
One talking point among the students was the report of an ICE detention center being planned in Berks County. The proximity of the facility has begun to cause concerns regarding ways KU students could be affected.
The purchased warehouse is located at 3501 Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township, which is one mile away from I-78 and twenty-five minutes away from KU. ICE will use the detention facility to hold thousands of detainees. This recent acquisition places the warehouse among several other holding facilities in Pennsylvania.
Despite these pervasive fears, the deep political turmoil engulfing the nation has inspired many KU students to stand together and speak out. They feel that, as eventual inheritors of this country, they should have more say in the social, economic, environmental and geopolitical decisions that will affect their futures.
The student protestors hope their activism will inspire younger generations to do the same when faced with times of injustice and tyranny.
“People need to get their voices out there,” KU freshman Avery said. “We need to assemble because young voices are powerful, and I feel like college students should set the standard for other adolescents. High school students are on the brink of voting every year. They should be able to look to college students for guidance.”
The organizers of February’s protest expressed interest in assembling again later this Spring and encouraged students to join and use their voice.