As a student at DHS, I walked out of school in protest of ICE in our school, community and country on Friday, Jan. 30, for the Nationwide Shutdown to oppose the intensified ICE operations following the violence in Minneapolis. I found myself unsure of how I wanted to make the time valuable and significant in my solidarity with our immigrant community and the constitutional rights of our freedoms of speech and rights to peacefully protest.
As a minor, I am unable to vote, and therefore very real decisions are being made that I do not agree with and have no voice to oppose. The adults in our country are making rules and ignoring rules that impact my community and my sense of safety and trust in our government. Although I do not have the power to make legal decisions through voting, I do have the rights of a voice and an opinion. I wanted to be able to share my voice in something that I believe in.
My participation in the shutdown is one of the only ways I can show that I am horrified at what our government is doing to immigrants and citizens alike. Another way I can participate is by trying to get my voice heard by those in positions of power – that what is happening is not right and does not reflect what our country stands for. I just hope I can get the adults to listen.
Mena Cerwin
Durango
