Time travel is no everyday occurrence, but five University of Idaho students joined about 1,000 others from around the country, and relived history as they walked for their rights in a reenactment of the 1965 civil-rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., March 4 through 9.
The march demanded the repeal of Alabama’s H.B. 56 anti-immigration law which requires a law enforcement officer to make a reasonable attempt to determine the citizenship of a person stopped, detained or arrested, when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, according to Alabama state law.
Maricela Avila, a UI sophomore, marched the 54-mile journey, and said the peaceful protest did more than commemorate the original of 1965, by showing people the fight for rights isn’t finished.
“Voting rights, labor rights and privacy rights are being endangered. This is how it started in ‘65 — if people hadn’t been brave enough to stand up for their rights, we wouldn’t have those rights today,” Avila said. “Living in Idaho, we’re comfortable sitting on our couches thinking these issues don’t concern us, but even though I don’t live in Alabama, this still affects my family and I.”
Avila and UI’s four other participants are members of the activist group Movimiento Activista Social (MAS) and the Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN).
MAS focuses on immigration, social justice within communities and helping minorities get higher education opportunities.
Avila said a key motivator of the group’s participation in the march was the injustice of racial profiling.
“It’s our responsibility as citizens. This is anti-constitutional,” Avila said. “We can’t just sit back, cross our arms and ignore it. We need to question everything, just because I’m comfortable doesn’t mean everyone is.”
Avila said the law allows for racial profiling and discrimination based on skin color.
“Whether someone is legal or not, the law profiles any person that looks ‘a certain way,’ by the color of their skin. It’s horrible, but that is the way it is happening,” Avila said. “Children can’t even go to school without being asked if they are legal, which could lead to the investigation of their parent’s legal citizenship.”
Avila said protesters walked 10 to 12 miles each day and participated in peaceful rallies at night, which focused on the different issues surrounding H.B. 56.
“There was a night focused on education, one on labor and farm worker rights, immigration rights — each night there was a different emphasis,” Avila said.
Senior Gloria Jimenez walked for two of the five-day march and said the opportunity was eye-opening and made her realize there are a lot of issues going on.
“A law with this many ideas about minorities will inevitably lead to racial profiling because anyone in Alabama who is colored and enters a public school can be questioned,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said she wants to help educate the Idaho communities about the importance of these issues and how they can be changed.
“Be active. Elect leaders that will represent change, while being supportive,” Jimenez said. “People, especially in the Latino communities, need to realize how important it is to be pro-active and vote. There’re so many Latinos who are eligible to vote, but aren’t registered.”
Jimenez said she wants to get minority groups educated and show them that they can implement change to make a difference.
“The march was amazing, and a great opportunity and experience for all of us,” Jimenez said. “On a professional level, it was awesome to see other activists around the nation supporting this issue. Getting to know other student organizers and work with them was inspiring.”
Jimenez said everyone needs to understand and be reminded of social inequality that happens every day.
“2012 is a time for change — it’s a year to voice our opinions, encourage people to vote and get educated about the issues around us,” Avila said. “The history is around us. We’re living it. This march sent out a message and started a process. This challenge is only the beginning of a new time.”
Michelle Gregg can be reached at [email protected]