Teenage activists Jossey and Ximena, who led a demonstration on Jan. 26 at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to protest the recent surge in ICE raids targeting immigrants across North Texas and beyond, have scheduled a second protest for 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at Dallas City Hall.
On Jan. 26, as more than 1,000 demonstrators stood together in solidarity, ICE was actively conducting raids throughout the North Texas region, leading to the arrest of 84 individuals, according to a press release announcing the Feb. 2 event. Since then, the press release said, additional arrests have been reported, “deepening the fear and instability felt by the undocumented community.”
Jossey and Ximena, who say they were inspired by “the urgency of the moment,” used social media to organize the Jan. 26 protest.
“Their leadership has re-ignited a movement, and multiple organizations and community organizers are supporting their efforts,” the press release said. “They are committing to uplifting youth voices in the fight for immigration justice and the abolition of ICE.”
The teen organizers said in a written statement, “We refuse to stand by as ICE tears our immigrant neighbors from their families. We will keep showing up until these inhumane policies are dismantled.
“We urge the community to bring signs, wear comfortable clothing, and join us in this fight for dignity and immigrant rights.”
In addition to organizing the upcoming protest, Jossey and Ximena also planned a student walkout at Sam Houston High School today (Friday, Jan. 31) to “call for an end to the inhumane racist policies that profile immigrants.” The walkout “aims to amplify student voices and demonstrate that young people refuse to accept policies that harm their communities.”
— Tammye Nash