The Puente Club hosted a peaceful protest against mass deportation outside at the front of the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus Outdoor Quad, Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Students came together offering a safe space for peers to support each other. It lasted an hour, with students waving flags, holding up signs and delivering speeches that elaborated on the detrimental effect mass deportation has on peoples’ families, livelihood, and wellbeing.
Puente Student Ambassador Natalia Longoria said she hopes the protest inspires more people on campus to speak up and rally for change and that it proves that “if you speak up, you get somewhere.”
Longoria emphasized her gratitude for her professors showing up for the protest saying “It really means a lot — coming to school and having someone that’s there — you know, to support you.”
Puente President Guadalupe Gama Gomez said she came up with the idea of protesting on campus.
“I had the idea of making this protest, since the protests outside of the [LMC community] were happening, and I attended both one in Antioch, and one in Pittsburg. So I thought, ‘why not have one on campus if we can?’” Gama Gomez said.
Gama Gomez said mentioning she was nervous but had fun planning and was glad it worked out as she was able to turn her idea into reality with the help of her club officers and members.
She explained the significance of the protest taking place on the college campus.
“[The protest being on campus] actually means a lot to me, because it’s where a lot of the children who are from undocumented parents are, and it’s important for them to feel represented because they might be scared with what’s going on,” Gama Gomez said.
Gama Gomez also mentioned she hopes passersby feel empowered, and safe.
“We want them to stay at school and stay protected,” Gama Gomez said. “Obviously we don’t know what’s gonna happen in the future, but as long as they’re here, they’re safe and they’re protected by a lot of the officials and the faculty here.”
She went on to add that she received lots of support from her professors.
“Without my professors, I probably would not have been encouraged to do this,” Gama Gomez said. “So I’m really, really thankful for them, and I’m grateful for all of the knowledge that they’ve given me, so I can make these things happen and show that we’ve got a voice on campus, and we’ve got to show it off.”
