“We want justice, you say how? Keep your hands off students now!” was one of many chants shouted during a Wednesday afternoon protest at the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice on San José State’s campus.
The protest was a response to the recent announcement earlier this week that 11 international students at SJSU had their visas revoked, according to an April 9 article by the Spartan Daily.
Michelle Smith McDonald, senior director of media relations at SJSU, confirmed with the Spartan Daily that as of Wednesday, the number of students had increased to 13.
Students for a Democratic Society SJSU (SDS) orchestrated the protest, providing an outlet for students to voice their opinions and show support for those directly affected by the revocation.
The progressive student organization plays a role in student activism on campus, protesting and advocating for multiple societal issues, according to its Instagram page.
John Duroyan, the organization’s president, talked about the urgency of organizing the protest as a show of disagreement and outrage with the recently implemented initiative.
“It was an emergency action,” Duroyan said. “We did it because we had learned that members of our SJSU community were under direct attack.”
Visa revocations of international students have been occurring on college campuses across the nation, a decision sanctioned by the Trump administration, according to an article published on Monday from the Associated Press.
“I was sickened but I was not surprised,” Duroyan said. “Trump has been escalating these attacks constantly. I figured it was only a matter of time before he targeted SJSU.”
During the protest, Nikki Flowers, an SJSU teacher education master’s student, spoke in front of the crowd, having much to say about current issues centered around immigration.
“We all know that revoking student visas is a vile and blatant effort by the Trump administration to criminalize, punish, silence and disappear students,” Flowers said. “Our government has always used the concept of criminalization as a form of subjugation.”
Flowers had a direct message for SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson and the rest of the administration at SJSU.
“Cynthia (and) admin, every single person here is watching you and we will be holding you accountable,” Flowers said. “We will not sit by silently. Protect our mixed status community members now.”
The president released a statement on Wednesday morning, informing the SJSU community that the Office of International Student and Scholar Services is currently monitoring Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records to contact students who can potentially be impacted by the revocation.
The International Student and Scholar Services offers immigration advising resources and co-curricular support for international students, according to an SJSU webpage.
Some of these resources include a social security card, housing information and scholarships, according to the International Student and Scholar Services resources webpage.
Also among the crowd at the protest was Kaly Blackwell, a second-year animation and illustration student.
“I was upset (and) I was angry, so I showed up,” Blackwell said. “I think mobilizations are one of the best ways for people to collectivize together and show their resentment towards something.”
While Blackwell is aware that the revocation is federal and there is only so much the school can do about it, she said she would still like to see a little more action from the administration.
“I think it can get tricky, because obviously it’s a state institution (and) they fall under the federal government (and) get funded by the federal government, but at the same time the students make the school – the school –,” Blackwell said. “You would not have a school if you didn’t have students.”
Last month, Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia University graduate student, was arrested for engaging in pro-Palestinian activism and is currently at risk of deportation, according to an April 7 article from the New York Times.
Blackwell got the opportunity to chant and protest using one of the megaphones which was a new experience for her.
“I was like OMG I’ve never gotten a megaphone,” Blackwell said. “But to do chants was fun because I was like ‘I can be so loud with this’ and I think it’s a testament to why people have used megaphones in organizing and protesting. They amplify your voice and they reach people.”
Kyle Jonke, a third-year psychology student, was in attendance showing support for the international students.
“It’s very infuriating, because as far as I know, these sorts of things are kind of unprecedented at this point in American history with the Trump administration,” Jonke said. “I can’t think of any other way to describe it. I don’t see how anybody could not be disgruntled.”
Universities across the nation have advised international students to reconsider travelling abroad for their safety according to Mar. 19 article from USA Today.
Despite these feelings of anger and distaste for Jonke also sees the good in the protest,noting that it provided an opportunity for different groups of people to unify and stand together for a common interest.
“I think this is also a unique moment, because I think there’s groups that are coming together,” Jonke said. “There’s a real opportunity for solidarity and I think that’s something good that could come out of this, so I’m hoping we could see that.”
