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In 2020, George Floyd’s murder and the Black Lives Matter protests forced United States leaders to address critical issues of racial bias and policing. While Donald Trump’s current administration has stripped us of much of that legislative progress, I believe there’s a lasting impact shown by our ability to organize and call out injustice today.

Our country is yet again forced to reckon with the same prejudiced issues that have plagued U.S. history. Immigration, for instance, has been a leading hot topic for Trumpsince he entered the political realm.

As a reminder, the U.S. was built by immigration and diaspora. Unless your ancestors are Native American, your lineage could trace back to the settling of the American colonies, or the forceful transatlantic slave trade. They could’ve chased a new opportunity during the California Gold Rush, or immigrated to escape European fascism.

Yet despite the crucial role immigrants play, we’ve watched Trump demonize them, split up families and deport without due process.

Though it’s easy to be consumed by the unavoidable media coverage of Trump’s crimes against humanity, I’ve noticed that Americans are emboldened to become more than bystanders. A major example of this is in Los Angeles, where immigrants make up over 35% of the population. It’s no surprise that L.A. was one of the first to stand up, protest against ICE arresting their neighbors, many of whom do not have criminal records.

The protests spanned across the country on June 14, accurately named the “No Kings” protests. Millions of people showed up in over 2,000 cities to stand up for democracy. Some of my favorite scenes included those who dressed for the occasion in Trump drag, with this video depicting Trump dressed as Julius Caesar being dog walked by the Statue of Liberty.

The anti-Trump marches ironically aligned with the date of his military parade, which – in true dictator fashion – also happened to be his birthday. While protests against his harmful policy had no shortage of attendees, the small number who did turn out for his parade left early.

I watched many scenes from the protests in L.A. play out in real time via social media. I saw one protester who dressed up as a Labubu and others incorporating mariachi music. It was peaceful and expressive, but still powerful.

Most scenes of violence that I digitally witnessed seemed to be a result of policing, like the LAPD shooting rubber bullets at reporters, abandoning any loyalty to the First Amendment. Because of heavy policing, there was a small number of protestors who reacted violently with Molotov cocktails and fireworks.

Even though these protests were largely peaceful, Trump decided to mobilize the military against the very citizens it’s meant to protect. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump was only inflaming the situation by sending the National Guard and Marines.

Ike Wood | Asst. Photo Editor

Our writer argues the current nationwide protests against ICE deportations display our power of collective action. Through organized protest, we demand a true democracy and accountability.

With everyday citizens using their bodies and voices as a force for creating change, many have looked to celebrities to do the same. Rapper and singer Doechii used her BET acceptance speech to speak out against Trump and support the L.A. protesters.

Plenty of other celebrities have appeared at protests while online discourse has begun swirling around those staying silent. If an 89-year-old can protest, your favorite L.A. influencer should be held to the same expectations.

While large protests can empower us as a collective, small local protests are equally vital.

Students at a Massachusetts high school staged a walkout after one of their classmates was arrested and detained by ICE. Marcelo Gomes da Silva is an 18-year-old who marches in the band and plays volleyball; he is no criminal. He was arrested after being mistaken for his father, and had no idea his student visa had lapsed until after he was taken into custody. Thankfully, he was released with the help of his outraged community.

We know that Trump has used hateful rhetoric against immigrants and people of color to try and justify his witch hunt. But we need to shine a light on the ulterior motives behind these detentions and deportations: money and power.

This administration seeks to advance white supremacy. This administration allows private airlines to profit from deportations. This administration authorizes for-profit prison companies to make billions off immigration detention centers.

So no, Trump’s immigration policy is not about rounding up criminals. If it were, Trump should also be concerned with his own crimes, along with quite a few of his friends.

Our democracy feels fragile right now, with some calling attention to the parallels between our modern day and European fascism. While this administration is trying to instill fear, we have to resist. We must continue to use our voices and freedom of speech.

Whether posting to your Instagram story, attending a local protest or writing an article, calling attention to injustice is important. If we, as the American people, normalize mistreatment from our own government, we have no business calling ourselves the land of the free.

Bella Tabak is a senior majoring in magazine journalism. She can be reached at batabak@syr.edu.

Published on June 17, 2025 at 8:13 pm