(right) David Serri, President of the Political Science Society, holds a hand drawn Defend DACA poster as marcher make their way to the mall on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Students organized their own Defend DACA March after President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program. Photo: Taylor Arthur
Mariana Castellanos, President of College Republicans, holds her hand drawn sign as she marches in the student-organized Defend DACA March on Sept. 12, 2017 at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo: Taylor Arthur
Melody Niv, President of Pierce College Democrats yells into a bull horn as she cheers the protesters onward down the Mall toward the Library and Learning Crossroads building during a student-organized Defend DACA March on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo: Taylor Arthur
Pierce College Associated Student Organization President and DACA recipient, Efren Lopez, gives a speech to protesters in the Defend DACA March organized by Pierce students on Sept. 12. 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif. Photo: Taylor Arthur
Aimee Vellegas and Gisela Tarifa walk down the Mall toward the Victory parking lot together during a student-organized Defend DACA March held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 12, 2017. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Gisela Tarifa holds her 30mm Canon camera and a hand made poster during a student-organized Defend DACA March on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Bella Aguilar-Rosil speaks into a megaphone to encourage her fellow marchers as she walks on the Mall toward the Student Services Building during a student-organized Defend DACA March at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. on Sept. 12, 2017. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Mario Macias, Librarian at Pierces’s Library and Learning Crossroads building participates in the student-organized Defend DACA March on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Professor Beth H. Abels, instructor of art and architecture, claps as Associated Student Organization President Efren Lopez closes his speech to marchers of a student-organized Defend DACA March at Pierce College on Sept. 12, 2017 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur.
Melissa Robles, student activist and President of MEChA, speaks to a group of protesters at the student-organized Defend DACA March on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Pierce College Associated Student Organization President and DACA recipient, Efren Lopez, gives a speech to protesters in the Defend DACA March organized by Pierce students on Sept. 12. 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Shigueru Tsuha, professor of sociology, praises student marchers in a speech during the student-organized Defend DACA March at Pierce College on Sept. 12, 2017 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Bella Aguilar-Rosil holds a hand painted poster in a student-organized Defend DACA March at Pierce College on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Photo by Taylor Arthur
(Center) Denise Robb, professor of political science, is pushed down the mall by her colleagues as they participate in the student-organized Defend DACA March at Pierce College on Sept. 12, 2017 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Robb is temporarily in a wheelchair due to a recent food surgery. Photo by Taylor Arthur
Students, faculty and staff gathered on the Pierce College Mall Tuesday afternoon protesting and counter protesting the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The march, organized by the ASO, was in protest of the Trump administration rescinding the DACA program.
Bella Aguilar-Rosil, the co-president of Pierce Democrats, helped organize the march and said that it was put together rather quickly upon the learning about the news.
“We wanted to take action now while everyone is still heated and upset about it,” Aguilar-Rosil said.
ASO member Allen Lopez said that the march happened because those involved believe in amnesty for undocumented students.
“We want to encourage students to stay in school and know that they are not alone,” Lopez said.
According to Lopez, if something happened to DACA students, it would negatively impact Pierce College.
“They do contribute to our local economy,” Lopez said.
Among the students marching for DACA, there were students counter protesting.
Carol Cruz, the vice president of College Republicans, is against DACA, however, that does not mean that she doesn’t have sympathy, she said.
According to Cruz, the process of coming to the country legally, which her family went through, is too long and difficult.
“It is a process which took them 10 years and thousands of dollars,” Cruz said. “My family was very poor, and my dad had to sell candy bars. Sometimes he wouldn’t be able to eat.”
Cruz, who thinks that DACA is unconstitutional, said she is one hundred percent against it in every form, and America should only help those who come here legally.
“You should try to help yourself as much as you can, before you help anyone else,” Cruz said.
Julio Tsuha, an instructor of sociology, addressed students saying that events like the march are the best part about being a teacher and being a part of the community.
“This is when we actually see the reasons why we became teachers coming to fruition,” Tshua said. “This is your movement, but we are right here with you.”
Pierce College Democrats will be hosting debates in the Great Hall through the course of the semester, according to Aguilar-Rosil.
“I want students to know that they aren’t alone, and that they don’t need to be afraid, because we are here for them,” Aguilar-Rosil said. “We are going to keep protesting and keep fighting for what is right.”
