Immigration enforcement protest draws crowd in Biloxi
“Even though I’m a U.S. citizen, I’m frightened. I fear for my family and my community.”
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – The sounds of protest washed out the usual afternoon traffic ambiance on Highway 90 in Biloxi on Monday.
Around a hundred people responded to a call to action at the Biloxi Lighthouse Pier. The demonstration criticized recent immigration enforcement in the United States began at 3 pm and continued well after sunset.
“No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” a crowd of young adults shouted as passing traffic honked in support.
Among those participating in the First Amendment display was Alan Lara. He is a first-generation American and told WLOX News he felt it was his duty to be there.
“I just want to build a legacy that we can remember and be proud of,” he said. “It’s been scary. A lot of people are afraid to come out. I feel like the young individuals of the community should come out and represent our parents.”
Dig beyond the cheers, you will find a community fearful about what is happening in this nation as immigration enforcement ramps up.
“Even though I’m a U.S. citizen, I’m frightened,” Minerva Trejo said. “I fear for my family and my community.”
Trejo, like many other protesters WLOX News spoke to, added that she wants immigrants who commit crimes to be deported. But, she feels Immigration and Customs Enforcement are also targeting migrants who are here legally.
“It hurts our people. That is why we’re here right now,” Alma Leon explained.
She organized the protest by spreading the word about the gathering on social media. Her teenage children joined her in the call to action.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my mom,” her son, Joshua Vasquez, said. “We’re here to support everybody. Immigrants built this country and we’re here to stay.”
Abigail Ramirez also helped spread the word on social media. She is a first-generation American whose parents moved to Biloxi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction to help rebuild South Mississippi.
She told WLOX News that she helped organize the protest after she saw other demonstrations happening around the United States.
“To be the voice for those who can’t speak for themselves right now, that’s really where my passion comes from,” she explained. “I grew up all around these types of people who have fought their whole lives for a better future for themselves and their families.”
Ramirez added that she did not know whether people would even show up to the protest after she received mixed reactions from social media.
“Honestly, I cried on my way here because I did not expect this much of an outcome,” Ramirez said as she looked across the mixed-race crowd that stretched the length of the parking lot sidewalk. “And it’s so heartwarming to know there are still people that support us who aren’t Hispanic.”
Supporters of the protest ranged in race and age.
“They’re good people, they just want to come and work and have a better life for themselves,” Dexter Kemp said, who stopped to participate when he saw the crowd.
“If you have bad individuals, I get it, but most of these people are excellent and work diligently,” Club 34 owner George Bush said. “I have no problem at my club with them, so I don’t understand.”
“A lot of the people we serve are scared and we’re here to support them in solidarity,” Mike Oropeza said.
Oropeza is the executive director of El Pueblo, a non-profit that works with immigrants in Mississippi.
“It’s amazing,” James Pennington added, Back Bay Mission’s executive director. “I think because people get the fact that we’re all migrants and we’re all immigrants. The only original Americans are the people who are indigenous.”
As the shouting and honking continued beyond sundown, Abigail Ramirez wanted people to walk away with this message: “There are a lot of families here that have been here for 20, 30 years and still can’t get a status, but yet there are people who are just walking in and getting handouts when there are people who worked here their whole lives for it. We need to fix this. Please.”
Another protest is planned for noon Saturday.
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