Katie Martinez, 23, is a junior media studies student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As the oldest of four children to immigrant parents, being aware of the current changes the Trump Administration is making is of the utmost importance to Martinez. She talked about her fears for the country and spoke about the need for more people to make change.
Shannon Knowski: What are your feelings towards the current administration and/or the aftermath of the election?
Katie Martinez: For the aftermath of the election, I remember that the first few days, even the first few weeks after it, I felt very dejected. I couldn’t believe that this was really happening. It was just like a state of feeling very helpless and very worried. Not just myself, but all the people that I care about, and took into consideration when I was voting. Since then, even the first few weeks into the new year, it’s been one thing after another, and it feels very overwhelming.
Knowski: Is there an executive order or action that has had the most impact on you and why?
Martinez: When the immigration raids started, primarily in Chicago and in Milwaukee and then extended to different parts of the country. It was very scary. I have immigrant parents and parents who have held immigration status for my whole life. Immediately my reaction was to check in on them, to check in on my family, to check in on my loved ones. And just making a plan, preparing about what might happen, what could happen if they were approached, and getting them prepared, teaching them their rights and everything. Being the oldest of four kids, I feel like I had to take the lead and kind of, okay, this is what we’re going to do, this is how we’re going to cope with it. If anybody approaches you, say this, this, and this, or don’t say anything, do this instead.
Knowski: Are you comfortable with disclosing who you voted for?
Martinez: I voted for Kamala Harris.
Knowski: How do you feel about the Democratic response to this election result?
Martinez: I think it has been a weak response. I’ve seen displays of protests that have happened at the White House from elected Democrats and it’s like they’re thinking they’re doing something, but they’re not. It’s not actually doing anything. They’re dressing in different colors to protest, they’re holding up signs, they’re saying all this stuff in interviews and publicly, but they’re not actually mobilizing to make any change or doing anything to bring about change. The first thing that comes to mind, it’s why aren’t they indicting him? Why aren’t they holding him accountable or anybody accountable, for that matter? It feels like there’s so much more that could be done, and they have the power to do that and they’re just not doing anything.
Knowski: Are you taking any actions at this time in response?
Martinez: Yeah, I recently got involved with LIT here on campus. It’s an organization here on campus where we sit with each other and express our concerns and vent to one another and talk about how we can bring change, not just to the university, but to also the community around us. I joined it this semester right after we came back from winter break. I’ve gone to a couple meetings. It’s been really nice to sit with people who think the way that I do and are not just sitting and wallowing in despair or sadness, but to actually try and do something about it.
Knowski: What are your thoughts about the current political divide, and do you think it’s going to continue to grow or shrink?
Martinez: I think it’s gotten much more intense the older I’ve gotten. I don’t ever remember people being this divided on their political opinions or their system of beliefs or ideologies. I think it’s headed into like a direction where it’s only going to get worse. You should be able to have a conversation with people who have different opinions with you. But I also think that now the opinions and the beliefs at stake are so dependent on morals and human rights and caring for everybody around you that that’s a non-negotiable for me at this point. I cannot be friends with anybody or have a connection with anybody that doesn’t support something about me or something about somebody that I care about.
Knowski: What are your thoughts on how the presentation of social ideology has changed over the years?
Martinez: I think that this administration really brought out the true colors of everybody. I think prior to this administration, we used to be more vocal about being anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-homophobic and stuff like that. I think that this administration almost made it a way for people to be able to express that hatred openly and shamelessly, and just really bring out the side of people that normally they would keep hidden away or they wouldn’t really talk about it. They’ve been so out and proud about it.
Knowski: Is there anything specific about this administration that is the most pressing to you?
Martinez: I think that as a student that’s going to be going into the workforce, I feel like the future is looking very bleak in terms of being able to afford a home at some point in my life. Being able to find a place to live that isn’t an insane amount of rent and the cost of living. I feel like that is getting harder for people my age and people going into the workforce. Also, trans rights, queer rights, queer spaces being taken and rights being stripped from different groups of people and marginalized communities. I feel like they’re all at risk. It’s not just worrisome to me, but I worry for them as well.
Knowski: What are your thoughts on Elon Musk having so much poll in US politics right now?
Martinez: I hate it. Is it crazy to say that I hate him? I dislike him a lot. It wasn’t just him that was at Trump’s inauguration, but it was so many different billionaires and people that come from money and wealth that were standing behind him and I just thought that was so scary. I was like, “Oh wow, like we’re literally going into an oligarchy.”
Knowski: What are your thoughts on the alleged Roman salute and America’s response to it?
Martinez: I don’t think it was a Roman salute. I think that was what people want to chalk it up to be. But I feel like anybody who knows the type of person that he is, the type of stuff that he has said before, his beliefs in general and type of person that he is, it’s like “No, I don’t think so.” I think people trying to defend it are trying to normalize it. Nobody does that. Anybody who looks at it at him doing that, they’re not going to think it’s a Roman salute, because that doesn’t make sense.
Knowski: Is there anything else that you want to bring up or talk about?
Martinez: To stay educated and hold community closer and hold your loved ones closer and find community and mobilize if you’re able to.