Phoenix joined in the protests against Donald Trump yesterday, with Arizona locals taking to the streets. Signs and slogans were in plentiful display, as were Mexican flags. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has long targeted Latinx individuals and communities. The anti-immigration rhetoric was always there, but it’s worsened under Trump. Now, colleges are censoring free speech while politicians make it easier for law enforcement to racially profile people. Phoenix locals have watched ICE try to take their neighbors before. Now, many are speaking out while there’s still a chance to speak.
Arizona Protests Trump with Phoenix Gathering
Boston signs are warning of fascism for a reason. The high-profile abductions of Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk by ICE have prompted national headlines. Unfortunately, they’re only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to U.S. detentions and deportations. Oppressive immigration policies and masked abductions by secret police threaten U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, visa holders, and immigrants of all kinds. Phoenix has seen the consequences of over-policing and a penal mindset before.
A TikTok by phx.protest about the Phoenix protests featured a variety of signs on a similar theme. “Fight Ignorance Not Immigrants,” said one. Others called on the Trump administration and ICE to leave their loved ones and families alone. It’s humanity that matters in the end, not legal status. Another sign at the Arizona protest shared a similar sentiment, saying,
No Human Is Illegal
Protests against Trump, Elon Musk, and Tesla will likely continue until there’s change. They’re already nationwide, with countless towns and cities denouncing the abductions and censorship occurring under the new administration. The combined push against immigration and DEI is an attempt to whitewash both American history and American communities. Taking to the streets in protest takes strength, but Phoenix has proved there’s no shortage of that in Arizona.
