UW-Milwaukee Students Participate in Immigrant Rights March

Over 30,000 march for a just immigration rights bill

By Daniel Ginsberg-Jaeckle

The following article was featured in the May 5th edition of the UWM Post.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students participated in the “Day Without Latinos” immigrant rights march, which took place on Milwaukee’s south side at 11 a.m. on May 1.

The march of 30,000 people, organized by Voces de la Frontera, included the help of The Progressive Students of Milwaukee and the Latino Student Union at UWM, whom organized a bus from the student union, of which 50 students attended.

“I’m excited so many student organizations were involved and more students were involved in this year’s march,” said Veronica Sotelo, Vice President of the Latino Student Union at UWM.

May 1 has been the national date of immigrant rights marches for three years, in which hundreds of thousands nationwide have marched for just immigration policy.

Voces de la Frontera, Wisconsin’s largest immigrant rights movement, has been involved in both civil rights and social justice issues, and last year mobilized a May 1 march of 80,000, Wisconsin’s largest ever demonstration.

Dave Moore, the Communications Coordinator of Voces de la Frontera, in calling this year’s march a big success, mentioned youth as an important factor in this year’s demonstration.

“100 students wearing ‘First 100 Days’ tee shirts led the march to send a clear and upfront message to our next president that we are calling for a just and humane immigration reform bill within the first 100 days of office,” said Moore.

Moore noted that many Riverside High School students marched in cap and gown to symbolize the need for progressive education reform as well, as undocumented workers are forced to pay out of state tuition fees upon high school graduation, despite the fact that many have lived in the state for nearly their whole lives.

UW-Milwaukee students carried a banner, which read, “Stop the War on Immigrants and Iraqis” with a Spanish translation underneath. Marchers were chanting “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”).

The Progressive Students of Milwaukee, formed in the spring semester of this year, are an organization composed of mainly UWM students who believe in creating progressive social, political, economic, and environmental change, according to their website (progressivestudents.org).

“Many students at UWM are immigrants, they have families and friends affected by the unjust immigration policy of this country, and it’s our duty as progressive students to defend these struggles and do what we can from this institution of higher learning, with all its great resources, to empower the immigrant community,” said James Lazar, a UWM student and co-founder of the Progressive Students of Milwaukee.

There are an estimated 12 million undocumented workers in the United States. According to the website of Voces de la Frontera, there has been a significant increase in the number of local families impacted by immigration raids.

The march lasted approximately three hours and went from S. 5th and Washington on Milwaukee’s south side to Veteran’s Park.

Photos coming soon!