Earlier today, CNN reports, seven undocumented people were arrested in Atlanta for blocking traffic in order to raise awareness about current immigration issues. Among them was Maria Marroquin, the 23-year-old co-founder of DreamActivist.org’s Pennsylvania chapter.
The group was protesting the lack of support of the DREAM Act in Congress and policies in Georgia which some have said will prevent undocumented students from accessing some universities.
Marroquin, along with other potential DREAM Act beneficiaries, recently declared herself “undocumented, unafraid and unapologetic” at a rally held at Independence Mall on March 19.
According to CNN, the other six detainees are Georgina Perez, Viridiana Martinez, Jose Rico, Dayanna Rebolledo, Andrea Rosales and David Ramirez.
On Thursday, a vigil is set to take place in front of Sen. Pat Toomey’s Philadelphia district office at 5 p.m. in honor of the seven detainees.
Pamela Salazar-Linares, founder of Temple for a DREAM, said her organization will be taking part in the vigil.
“We have worked with [Marroquin] from the very beginning of the formation of Temple for a DREAM, and she has been a great ally,” Salazar-Linares said in an email. “These DREAMers are truly brave, they are taking a stand in a state that is so anti-immigrant.”
“Georgia banned undocumented students from attending public institutions. We cannot allow these types of legislations to spread throughout the country,” Salazar-Linares said. “For that reason a vigil is going to take place in front of Sen. Toomey’s office to make him be aware of the situation.”
Salazar-Linares encouraged Temple students and faculty to attend the vigil.
“Temple for a DREAM will be there,” Salazar-Linares said.
Angelo Fichera can be reached at afichera@temple.edu.
[Updated Thursday, April 7 at 3:59 p.m.]
I don’t know why any protesters feel they have a right to block traffic and cause problems for other people. They should go to jail and now be deported. I woulk kick that girl (or anyone for any cause) in the face if she tried to block me from going about my day.
These students are from a lawless society and want to turn our country into the one they came from.
These people who celebrate this lawlessness will never receive citizenship. We can not have our country destroyed from within by them.
Joe: You need to be educated. Your low tolerance for the struggles of others and your brutality against students who cant fix their immigration status not only show your ignorance, but also what a incompetent nut job you are.
Joe, Susan Kohl
sadly, you are unappreciative of exactly the process that gave rise to the rights that you now take for granted.A peaceful protest does not equal lawlessness, nor does calling attention to injustice warrant a kick in the face. Were you the one in her position, would you have the necessary courage to fight not just for yourself, but for others like you. Doubt it- only real Americans do that
It’s great to know that the illegal alien is being detained.
Well if it were up to me, people like you would be detained for being cold-hearted and ignorant.