March 5th, 2018 was the self-imposed deadline that President Donald Trump established last fall for ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program if Congress did not pass an alternative that he would find acceptable. Instead of waiting and watching to see what would happen that day, Dreamers at Rutgers University-Newark and all over New Jersey, with the support of elected officials, coordinated rallies calling for Congress to pass a clean Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
At 11a.m., the "No Dream Deferred Act" Rally began in front of the Paul Robeson Campus Center, on the campus of Rutgers-Newark, starting a chain reaction of rallies that lasted until 8pm across New Jersey, including Rutgers University-Camden, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Westfield, Hamilton Township, and Mays Landing. The events had more than 30 sponsors led by RU Dreamers Newark, We the Dreamers at Essex County College, Make the Road NJ and New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, which employed social media platforms such as Facebook to coordinate. The Newark rally began with Rutgers-Newark and Essex County College students, who are Dreamers themselves, speaking to the crowd. They spoke about their own personal stories and backgrounds to inspire and help create change.
Alexis Machado, 22, who attended Oliver Street School in Newark, Science Park High School in Newark, Essex County College in Newark, worked at the YMCA in Newark, and currently attends Rutgers-Newark, spoke out about what it is like living in fear, from court date to court date, not knowing what the future holds. “We need a clean Dream Act that protects not only DACA recipients but our parents as well. Our parents would do what any other parent would do. They sacrificed everything to provide their children for a better life and for their children they live in fear,” Machado stated. “All we want is for this country that we love and call home is to love us back and let us stay.”
Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor, invited to speak at the rally by student organizers, expressed strong support for the cause. “In one way or another none of us would be here as Americans if those who traveled here to find a new life, new community, and to raise a new generations of citizens have not been allowed to do just that,” Chancellor Cantor expressed at the rally.
“It's pretty unusual to have the president of the college at your rally and then the president of the community college at your rally. I grew up in college doing a lot of rallies and I don’t think the president ever came to any of our rallies,” Kevin Brown, the New Jersey State Director of 32BJ Service Employees International Union, said emphasizing the significance of the rally.
U.S. representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) were among the influential public figures and organizations who sent messages of support and advocacy. Via video, Representative Coleman promised to fight in Washington D.C. and to use her voice for this purpose. Senator Booker said in a video message that he supports Dreamers and paraphrased history by reminiscing on words from historical figures, such Langston Hughes, demanding actions take place now.
College students were joined by people of all ages from the Newark community participating in the rally, including children, adults, teenagers, and elderly. The diversity in Newark was evident, emphasized by the recurring message that the fate of DACA affects everyone.
First-Year Rutgers Business School student Phillip Reis, 19, spoke of his upbringing and had strong words for public officials. “I grew up in Jersey which is a very diverse place. All my life I have been surrounded by a lot immigrants and some of my friends are Dreamers themselves. Therefore, I believe that they can amend a lot into the future of this country. Politicians are being ignorant and blind to the fact that these people are contributors to society just like me and you and should not be discredited for citizenship. I know my mom would be very proud of me for coming out to this rally to support the millions of people trying to fight for their dream everyday. She taught me that it is important to know and acknowledge where you came from and to help people with my voice and blessings”.
During the rally, sheets were passed around with chant lyrics on them, along with signs, newspapers, and t-shirts, to support the fight for a new DREAM act. Other groups on campus not only turned out to support one another but to create more means of participation. A group of fraternities on campus created, what they call, the “Wall of Prejudice,” on which students were encouraged to write any stereotypes or any negative voices in their heads. The intention was to fill up the wall then destroy it a few days later. Mock newspapers that were passed around were in both English and Spanish with the headline “Smash racist deportations-Working people have no nations!”
As the rally ended, participants gathered together and began a march through the streets of Newark, culminating at the Federal Building.
