Spreading love instead of hate

For Rosario Rodriguez, President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration - authorizing construction of a U.S–Mexico border wall and imposing entry restrictions on residents from seven predominantly Muslim countries - strikes very close to home.

The Eastern Washington University political science major is the daughter of immigrants living in Sunnyside, Wash. Rodriguez said she also has Muslim friends and friends who are LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) - all of whom are now "terrified" of what might come next regarding their futures.

"I have friends who don't want to leave home," she said Tuesday afternoon. "It's affecting literally everyone around."

Rodriguez was one of 150–200 EWU students, staff and faculty gathered on the campus mall at noon Tuesday in a rally protesting Trump's decisions while showing support and solidarity with those who are affected by the orders. Organizer Logan Camporeale told the gathering he was galvanized to put the rally together by two factors - inspiration from recent marches across the nation and frustration over Trump's orders.

"Frustration goes away when you get involved in some sort of action," Camporeale said.

Camporeale introduced several speakers to the crowd, beginning with Jaclyn "Jac" Archer, member of EWU's Black Student Union and vice chair of the Spokane County Democrats.

Archer's father came to the U.S. in the 1980s, something she is proud of and of the fact she is a citizen of this country. She said many students coming from other countries can't speak up for themselves publicly about what's happening because that would violate conditions of their visas.

"We've got to speak up for them," Archer said.

Like other speakers that followed, Archer encouraged students to get involved in activism, joining clubs or task forces such as Eastern's Multi-Cultural Coalition. She also said there were organizations in the community, such as World Relief, Spokane County Democrats and the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane.

"You can walk up to any of the groups and say, 'I'm here, I'm willing and I'm ready to help," Archer said.

One member of the Young Democrats of Eastern Washington University urged people to advocate for Eastern to become a sanctuary campus, and to go to entities such as the Cheney City Council urging them to become a sanctuary city. Students and staff petitioned the university's board of trustees for such a move in November 2016, with the board responding they would do what they could - legally - to make Eastern a safe place for all students.

Political science professor Dr. Majid Sharifi calmly told the crowd of his experiences coming to the U.S. from Iran as a student in the early 1970s, noting conditions for immigrants are worse today than back then.

He said he had friends on both sides of the political aisle who work to make things better, but noted that when push comes to shove, Democrats always seem to compromise on issues. He said Trump was the problem, equating him as another slide in a movie that began with former President Ronald Reagan.

"It is time to stop compromising!" he shouted. "It is time to take the country back! It is time to take the tyrant down!"

EWU President Dr. Mary Cullinan read a draft of a statement she was preparing to send to the university as a whole. She pledged all of EWU's campuses would be open and supportive of students, regardless of their status and would be united in respecting their privacy.

"That's what Eastern stands for," she said.

Her chief of staff, Angela Jones, added that while protests send a message, real change comes with changing policy.

"You need David to slay Goliath, you need that," Jones said. "But you need system change to make it stick."

For Rodriguez from Sunnyside, being at the rally also meant she was standing up for friends back home who were undocumented and in danger of deportation. If President Trump were standing before her, her message would be simple and clear.

"Spread love, not hate," she said.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].