CHAMPAIGN — Around 150 University of Illinois students and Champaign-Urbana community members came together Saturday for a rally to show solidarity with the local migrant community amid a shift in policies at the federal level.
The group marched from West Side Park to downtown Champaign and back. Protesters blocked traffic while playing music and using loudspeakers to chant in unison. The event, called “RESISTENCIA!” or “resistance” in Spanish, was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Prairie Liberation Center, and Students for Socialism at UIUC.
Derek Briles, an organizer for Champaign-Urbana’s Party of Socialism and Liberation, said the rally was an opportunity to protest the Trump administration’s efforts to target and deport those without legal status.
“This country was built by immigrants,” Briles said. “This country runs on immigrants and migrant labor. They deserve to be here. They deserve to be safe. They deserve to be welcomed, and that’s what we’re here for.”
The crowd chanted to condemn recent U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement raids in cities like Chicago and inform immigrants of their rights.
“Up-up with liberation, down-down deportation,” one chant cried.
Led by a red pickup truck, protestors halted traffic by Champaign City Hall and the Christie Clinic on University Avenue and walked past businesses on North Walnut Street.
After marching for about half an hour, community members returned to West Side Park to hear event leaders detail their experiences with migrant community members.
“We’re not going to agonize,” said Jason Farias, a member of PSL. “We’re going to organize.”
The demonstration ended with music and community discussions.
Briles said bringing the community together is critical to fighting for social change.
“We can’t be at home and complain online about how bad things are without taking up in-person action to make it visible,” Briles said. “You can’t let people operate business as usual.”