Immigration Battle is Focus of Protest at Milwaukee’s GOP Debate

A coalition of student groups came together to protest the Republican debate at the Milwaukee Theatre. Ean Holtz was there.

(We are the people chant)

(Begin Background Drumming)

Holtz: Hundreds of protestors shut down Kilbourn Avenue as they marched toward the Milwaukee theatre. Protestors held signs saying, “No person is illegal.” “15 and a Union.” and “Free Palestine!” Nadia Omar is a member of Students for Justice in Palestine at Marquette.

Omar: The message we wanted to put across is that; yes, we are fighting for Palestinian rights. But, we’re also fighting for immigrant rights. We’re fighting for worker rights and women’s rights and all that. So, it was beautiful to see the solidarity from all of these groups to come together for this one great event. (:12)

Holtz: In 2012, President Obama put out an executive action, which allowed some undocumented citizens to stay in the United States legally. Iuscely Flores is undocumented and is afraid the next president will take away her right to live in the United States. Flores is a student at UW-Milwaukee and a member of Youth Empowered in the Struggle.

Flores: I have been in the states for fourteen years now so I am from here, I don’t know anything else this is my country and it’s not fair that I have to defend myself from somebody who wants to be the president of this country.(:10)

Holtz: The Milwaukee Anti-war committee demanded an end to US aid to Israel. Gadeer Ayesh lived in Palestine during the second intifada. Her elementary school was bombed when she was in kindergarten. In October, a series of attacks in the west bank made Ayesh concerned about the safety of her loved ones in Palestine.

Ayesh: I still have friends there and I still have family there who live through this every day. It’s a daily struggle of not knowing if today is going to be the day that a solider is going to stop me and strip-search me. Is today going to be the day where a soldier is going to shoot me or my brother or my father or my mother or my son. (:18)

(sax fade out)

Holtz: The protest ended as the debate began, but the protesters concerns will likely linger. For Media Milwaukee, I’m Ean Holtz.