By: Ellie Simmers | Editor-in-Chief
Organizers Abby Garrett (left) and Sydney Byrd (right) speaking at ICE Walkout. Photo Credit: Jackson Mistretta
On a cold, rainy Friday morning, a small group of students and faculty met in Friendship Circle on the University of Lynchburg’s campus during a walkout to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Organizers Abby Garrett and Sydney Byrd, both first-year students at the university, shared anonymous testimonies from international students about how ICE has affected them.
“There are huge sacrifices and commitments that immigrants make to live better lives for themselves. These are not animals, savages, or criminals. Just hardworking people trying to adjust to a life completely different from the ones they left behind,” one anonymous testimony read.
Byrd and Garrett acknowledged the fear that international students are feeling on campus,
“They are rightfully afraid that their ability to be here could be put in jeopardy if they raise their own voices against ICE, which is precisely the reason why we are here today,” said Garrett.
One of the only international students present at the event, Gabriella Rivero ‘29, expressed the uncanny feeling of not being safe in the United States.
“Here in the US, more than before, it’s really weird to have the sentiment of having to think about my family and if we are safe or not being here,” said Rivero, citing her fear as her reason for attending the walkout.
This comes after a contentious debate in early February among Lynchburg City Council Members over whether the Lynchburg Police Department should comply with Governor Spanberger’s mandate that discourages police departments from collaborating with ICE.
During the walkout, a moment of silence was held for those who have died under the custody of ICE, as well as individuals like Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, and Dr. Linda Davis who have been killed by ICE agents.
This isn’t the end of the road for Garrett and Byrd’s activism, as they plan to continue bringing attention to this issue through events on campus and in the community around the university.
Closing out the protest, both Byrd and Garrett emphasized the important next steps that people should take.
“Do your research on what’s happening in the world and look deeper than what all the other news sources are saying. And even if it’s not directly affecting you, recognize how that is a huge privilege,” said Byrd.
For more information about similar activism in Lynchburg, visit https://www.indivisiblelyh.org/
