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Declaring themselves "undocumented, unapologetic and unafraid," two college students were arrested by Philadelphia police Wednesday after a boisterous street protest that snarled traffic for more than an hour.
Tania Chairez, 19, a University of Pennsylvania sophomore, and Jessica Hyejin Lee, 20, a junior at Bryn Mawr College, planted themselves atop two banners they put in the roadway at 16th and Callowhill Streets at 3:15 p.m. and refused to move. The spot is directly in front of the Philadelphia offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the deportation police known as ICE.
Chairez, whose parents brought her here as a young child from Mexico, and Lee, whose parents brought her here from South Korea, are illegal immigrants. Speaking through bullhorns, they said their act of civil disobedience was designed to encourage undocumented people "to come out of the shadows" and demand universal human rights.
About 75 demonstrators, mostly from the city's Latino and Asian youth movements, assembled at Love Park, then marched to spot where the women sat in. Spilling off the sidewalks, the demonstrators chanted support for immigration reforms that would grant students like Chairez and Lee legal status.
"Out of the shadows, into the street," the demonstrators chanted. "No courage, no change."
No, they're not saying illegal immigration is a universal human right.
These young women were brought here as young children, they had no say in the matter; I can't fault them for their parents' decisions.
As far as affording their tuition, there are very few students who can afford college tuition, Ivy League, private or state. If they were awarded scholarships, then they must have shown brains and ability to qualify. I don't think the answer is to deport bright young people who have assimilated into our society and show such promise. Fast-track their citizenship and allow them the chance to give something back to this country.
I'm sure these are exceptionally bright young ladies. But I'm also cetain that there are equally bright young ladies, who were denied admission or scholarships simply because of their race. Where is the empathy for them?
It's pure arrogance. They've gamed the system and profited. But instead of gratitude, they decide to break the law and block traffic for an hour.
I'm sure their families are proud. Not.
The hatred for children that are victims of circumstance never fails to amaze me.
Is it hyperbole TT or simply projection? I suspect that certain leftists are so full of anger and self loathing, that they have a habit of accusing others of the same.
Reasonable people can disagree without hate
And by reasonable, I mean non Progressives.
Yesterday's protest was on behalf of an illegal who is in jail for drugs. They couldn't find a better poster child? I hope no one died because an ambulance couldn't get through their human roadblock.
Declaring themselves "undocumented, unapologetic and unafraid," two college students were arrested by Philadelphia police Wednesday after a boisterous street protest that snarled traffic for more than an hour.
Tania Chairez, 19, a University of Pennsylvania sophomore, and Jessica Hyejin Lee, 20, a junior at Bryn Mawr College, planted themselves atop two banners they put in the roadway at 16th and Callowhill Streets at 3:15 p.m. and refused to move. The spot is directly in front of the Philadelphia offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the deportation police known as ICE.
Chairez, whose parents brought her here as a young child from Mexico, and Lee, whose parents brought her here from South Korea, are illegal immigrants. Speaking through bullhorns, they said their act of civil disobedience was designed to encourage undocumented people "to come out of the shadows" and demand universal human rights.
About 75 demonstrators, mostly from the city's Latino and Asian youth movements, assembled at Love Park, then marched to spot where the women sat in. Spilling off the sidewalks, the demonstrators chanted support for immigration reforms that would grant students like Chairez and Lee legal status.
"Out of the shadows, into the street," the demonstrators chanted. "No courage, no change."
Two undocumented immigrants arrested in protest
One hour of traffic blocked; extra police assigned.
U of Penn is an ivy league school. Bryn Mawr is private. I am wondering how they could possible afford tuition without grants and scholarships. Hmmmmm.
Illegal immigration is now a "universal human right"? I had no idea.
It will be interesting to see if they end up with a record.
That could mess with their ability to get legal status even if they ever decided to comply with the law instead of thumbing their noses at it.
These young women were brought here as young children, they had no say in the matter; I can't fault them for their parents' decisions.
What other record do they need other then their deportation record?
No, they're not saying illegal immigration is a universal human right.
These young women were brought here as young children, they had no say in the matter; I can't fault them for their parents' decisions.
As far as affording their tuition, there are very few students who can afford college tuition, Ivy League, private or state. If they were awarded scholarships, then they must have shown brains and ability to qualify. I don't think the answer is to deport bright young people who have assimilated into our society and show such promise. Fast-track their citizenship and allow them the chance to give something back to this country.
