Undocumented Immigrant Students Use Lessons Learned on the Civil Rights Movement
The Orlando Sentinel reported that recently in Boston, immigrant students, the majority of them undocumented, gathered on the steps of the State Capitol voicing for the passage of immigration reform, particularly, the DREAM Act.
Although rallies such as this have occurred in the past few years, this time, these students are taking a slightly different approach. That approach is by implementing the lessons they’ve learned when minorities in the 50’s and 60’s marched during the Civil Rights Movement.
These students have learned the concepts of civil disobedience, holding sit-ins, and walking out of class in protest, very much like the concepts used during the civil rights era to voice their opinion and have immigration reform passed.
The majority of these undocumented students feel that they are American because they have lived in the U.S. most of their lives. Most of them are ineligible for state and federal financial aid because they have no immigration status. They are making comparisons between themselves and the segregation of minority students back in the 1950’s.
Rallies such as this have occurred across the country and have gained the attention of members of Congress. Some have indicated their support for the passage of the DREAM Act.
Overall, the immigration problem is growing and a solution must be found so that our country can move forward.
