North Little Rock, Arkansas – On Friday night, dozens of demonstrators flocked to North Little Rock to express their disapproval of President Trump’s proposal for mass deportations.
The White House is referring to the people being arrested and deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel nationwide as “criminal illegal immigrants.”
However, many members of the Hispanic and Latino communities feel discriminated against because they fear deportation.
“I know my parents are not a threat to society because I have witnessed their tremendous efforts here. “I am aware of how unfairly they are treating us,” protest coordinator Angela Baltazar stated.
She expressed her disapproval of ICE dividing up families, as did many other protesters.
Baltazar talked about her own experience, adding, “I know it’s really difficult since I was separated from my parents from the age of three until I was nine. That is something I would never want any child to go through.
Though the White House has vehemently denied them, rumors of ICE raids at schools have gone viral on social media.
“Not only me but a lot of people have younger siblings and just the trauma of seeing someone get taken away in front of them without knowing or explanation of anything,” Baltazar said, highlighting the concern these rumors bring.
“I feel like schools should be a safe zone because we are here for an education and I feel like everyone deserves one,” Baltazar stated.
At the demonstration, several people expressed their annoyance at being criticized because of their ethnicity.
“Students at school are warning us that we will contact ICE, so please come grab us so we can earn our money and incentives. Isabella Morales remarked, “It is frightening to live in a society where you are condemned and unable to be who you are because you are Hispanic.
The Arkansas State Capitol will host another demonstration on Saturday at noon.
