By A group of protesters rallied around the University Student Union Tuesday morning to protest the speaking appearance of Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, in the Beach Auditorium.
The rally was organized and led by the newly formed Campus Coalition Against Hate, a group of faculty and students that has assembled within the past 10 days in response to Gilchrist’s presence on campus.
Protesters sporting white shirts and red armbands carried signs with slogans such as “No Human is Illegal” and “We Are All Immigrants.” Various English and Spanish media outlets were also present.
A few protesters walked around with red rags concealing their faces. One young man used a red bandana to protect his identity.
“To, like, hide my identity, I’ve been to a lot of protests and gotten in trouble with the police. I stick to my beliefs so I’ve been hassled by police,” the red bandana-wearing man said.
Adrian Hernandez, a senior Chicano/Latino studies major, who also wore a red bandana around his face, said his motivation was just to display “the red,” which he said is a symbol for unity.
Hernandez, however, was one rally participant who welcomed Gilchrist’s visit to campus.
“I’m surprised an organization like this – the Conservative Student Union – can rise again, but I welcome it,” said Hernandez. “Never in the years that I have been here have I seen such diversity. Thanks to Gilchrist, we’re working together,” said Victor Manuel Rodriguez, a professor of Chicano/Latino studies, in Spanish.
Some students and faculty explained their reasons for protesting Gilchrist’s ideas at a morning press conference.
“Know [that] this student body will unite against hate speech,” said Nicoal Sheen, a sophomore political science major and a member of the Coalition. “We’re insistent and we’re gonna fight back.”
“It’s [the Minutemen’s viewpoint], a vision of white America, something they imagined existed 300 to 400 years ago,” said Norma Chinchilla, a sociology professor.
Another panelist said the Minutemen “attack on human rights, on all of us, not just undocumented immigrants. Americans’ problems are not caused by immigrants.”
“We’re not protesting Gilchrist,” said Nehemias Hernandez, chair of membership for La Raza. Nehemias at the protest also handed out armbands and literature on immigration facts and myths and information critical of the Minuteman Project.
“He’s part of something bigger, Gilchrist is just a part of a big national movement blaming immigrants for the societal woes of the country today,” Nehemias said.
“I feel it’s an issue that really concerns the Latin community that promotes hate – the ideology of the Minutemen hiding behind a patriotic image to promote racist organizations to validate a group that’s doing nothing but promoting racism and inequality in our community,” said Hector Gomez, a protester and junior pre-med student.
Professor of Chicano/Latino studies Armando Vazquez-Ramos helped organize the protest rally as a “profound noisy message that we don’t want hate on this campus.”
“This is a lifetime commitment. I’ve been at this university for 40 years – first as a student, then a professor, an activist for human rights, social justice,” said Vazquez-Ramos. “They’re extreme organizations, the KKK equal the Minutemen … It’s rampant, the campus is apathetic, disconnected.”
While in the process of explaining his decision to get involved, two young men walked by the protest in dissent.
“I hate the haters,” one of the passers-by said.
“See, it’s that kind of sublime message,” Vazquez-Ramos responded when hearing the comment. “It’s creating a condition for more violence, an intolerant society.”
As a result of their involvement in the Gilchrist opposition, both Vazquez-Ramos and Chinchilla said they received hate mail.
The majority of the protesters Tuesday were of Hispanic heritage. However, the crowd watching contained people from diverse backgrounds.
“I oppose racism and embrace humanity, and I want to show as a white man, I support everybody,” said Grady Dunne, a journalism major.
The size of the crowd rallying in front of the University Student Union grew as the afternoon progressed. However, the demonstration remained peaceful – a goal that the Coalition emphasized.
“We wear white shirts to say that we are peaceful,” said Nehemias Hernandez.
Renee Sebeny described the outcome of the rally as “a success – no violence.”
