JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A whole bunch of individuals from Jacksonville’s Hispanic and Latino communities made their voices heard in Lakewood Monday to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration coverage that requires mass deportation of anybody who’s in america illegally.
The protest was held within the car parking zone of the Mariscos El Pacifico Seafood Bar and Grill, close to the nook of College Boulevard and Powers Avenue.
“They’re calling us criminals however in actuality, we’re simply hard-working individuals attempting to make a residing right here. We’re attempting to make life higher for not solely ourselves however each particular person on this nation,” Daniel Juarez mentioned.
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The protest was a response to the Trump Administration’s plan to revoke the authorized standing of sure immigrants from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti who entered the U.S. underneath the Biden Administration.
Latest arrest numbers by U.S. Customs Enforcement confirmed a major enhance in arrests of people believed to be within the U.S. illegally.
“I’m scared. I’m scared for my pals. I’m scared for the dad and mom. I’m scared for the youngsters,” Yvonne Shaffer mentioned.
Briany Herieia, who’s within the U.S. legally, added, “Even for me, I’m right here legally and it’s scary to go to court docket. It’s scary to exit and if it’s scary for me, I can think about the individuals who don’t have assist or a piece allow.”
Joseph Howard is a refugee case supervisor in Jacksonville. He mentioned the typical American has no thought of the gang and cartel violence many immigrants are attempting to get away from.
“Within the U.S., White individuals like me can’t fathom the horrors that these gangs inflict on the inhabitants. We don’t know the desperation. We’re privileged sufficient to not know the desperation.”
Protestors emphasised that not all unlawful immigrants are violent criminals and highlighted their contributions to the economic system.
“We transfer the economic system. With out us, there isn’t any meals in your desk. With out us, there isn’t any development. With out us, a variety of issues don’t occur,” Shaffer mentioned.
Organizers of the protest indicated that this occasion is just the start of extra public demonstrations to make their voices heard. Throughout the protest, pamphlets had been distributed to minors with directions on what to do in the event that they encounter ICE brokers in school. Duval County Colleges confirmed that there have been no experiences of such encounters.
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