Boston University students held a walkout at Marsh Plaza Friday in response to President Donald Trump signing executive orders targeting immigrants and enacting mass deportation, which have already been put into action across the United States.
The walkout, organized by the BU Young Democratic Socialists of America, BU Prison Outreach Initiative, Alianza Latina and the new BU Resistance Network, called for the University to make a pledge to defend students against the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans.
Representatives from the organizing groups gave speeches encouraging students to unite against rampant political change. Student Government President Akwasi Antwi opened the slate of speeches, adding he attended the walkout to take a stand.
“Throughout the history of BU, students have always been proactive in getting out and protesting and fighting for what’s right,” Antwi said. “I figured as a representative of the student body, I’ll do the exact same.”
In his speech, Antwi reflected on his background as a child of immigrants and told protestors not to remain complicit to Trump’s actions.
“We can’t let that fear turn into hopelessness,” he said. “It has to turn into a sort of anger, a righteous anger, to defend those who cannot defend themselves.”
Antwi criticized the University for its failure to issue a “simple statement to condemn the current policy.”
“[BU] can’t even disavow the racist and xenophobic actions of our current president,” he said.
In response to a request for comment, BU Spokesperson Colin Riley wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that the BU Events and Demonstration Policy “was established for the safety of our students and members of the community, while providing an opportunity for students to express themselves peaceably.”
Junior Zoe Xue said she attended the walkout to show her support and take action against mass deportation.
“It hurts a lot just to think about it,” Xue said. “I feel like we’re not sure what we’re doing or if we can actually do anything, but I feel like it’s ridiculous not to do anything.”
A speaker from YDSA, who did not want to be named, deemed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a “sadistic pack of racists.”
“Migrants are welcome here,” he said. “ICE will never be welcome here, and so long as ICE remains in Boston, we will resist.”
The YDSA speaker urged people not to simply “vote blue,” since Democratic leaders at the local, state and federal levels have also enacted anti-immigrant policies.
“Since neither party will save us, we must save ourselves,” he said.
Junior Mary Haddad attended the walkout to ensure BU took a firm stance rejecting mass deportation.
“I’m here to help protect my international peers,” Haddad said. “[Trump’s immigration policies] directly impact many of my friends and peers.”
Sophomore Lila Salter said Trump’s agenda for mass deportation is “ridiculous.” She said on Friday, her teaching fellow locked the classroom door to protect students from ICE raids happening across the country.
Salter called for BU to offer protection for its students and to ensure it locks down schools if ICE is in the area.
“That’s the least they can do,” Salter said. “They’re charging $90,000 a year, and they can’t protect their students? That’s ridiculous.”
Sophomore Nikhil Pol, founder and leader of Artists for Advocacy, a new student group that aims to show how art is an accessible form of activism, spoke at the walkout and focused on the humanity in the crowd, urging students to take action against injustice.
“It is this humanity that the Trump administration failed to understand,” Pol said. “They call us migrants, illegals, and reduce us to one word. We are so much more than that.”
