Protestors urge Rubio to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill
With signs that read “No human being is illegal” and “No more deportations!” protesters gathered Saturday afternoon outside office of Sen. Marco Rubio at the USF Connect building in the USF Research Park chanting.
“Obama! Obama! Don’t deport my mama,” they chanted.
The group, comprising USF students from Tampa’s Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapter, La Raíces en Tampa, a group whose main goal is legalization for undocumented immigrants, and Farm Workers Alliance of Florida protested in an effort to push Rubio and other members of Congress to pass the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, a bill which seeks to litigate border security, economic opportunity and the legal status of undocumented immigrants.
Gage Lacharite, a sophomore majoring in computer science and member of Tampa Bay SDS, said he protested to show his support.
“I think the importance here is just showing that this movement has numbers and that this is something that the American people demand, in a lot of ways,” he said.
Tampa resident Marisol Marquez, who has participated in several on-campus protests, organized Saturday’s protest.
“I think the Congress … they’re not really thinking of passing it, because that pretty much would give a lot of empowerment to the people,” she said.
The group left flyers and signs in Rubio’s office. Marquez said she doesn’t know if he will respond, but said “it would be wise of him to comment on it.”
More Stories
USF students ‘hooked’ on using new bouldering wall in REC Center
For beginner climber Gianni Crowl, having a new bouldering wall on campus is an opportunity to talk to other students and challenge himself with something new. Crowl was one of the students who visited the bouldering wall at the Recreation & Wellness Center (REC) when it opened Monday morning. The freshman computer science major said […]
Meet Tracy DeCrescenzo: USF Bull Runner driver, Brooklyn kid, rock star
Get to the assigned bus, start the engine, pick up his flash drive filled with Beatles songs and play “Here Comes the Sun.” This is how 61-year-old Tracy DeCrescenzo starts his 7 a.m. shift driving Bull Runner buses at USF. DeCrescenzo loves listening to classic rock ‘n’ roll at work. He skips songs when the […]
USF’s Botanical Gardens’ recovery after Milton: ‘A work in progress’
Walking through the Botanical Gardens in late October, visitors may have seen collapsed trees or the broken bridge leading to the medicinal garden. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9, 2024 in Siesta Key, bringing a storm of devastation to Tampa Bay. The hurricane flooded the Gardens. The medicinal and wildflower gardens were left under […]
USF achieved record-breaking research funding in the first full year at AAU
In 2024, USF received a record-breaking $738 million in research funding, the largest amount it has ever gotten. Jeffrey Krischer, director of USF’s Health Informatics Institute, will be one of the researchers reaping the benefits. Krischer, who studies the causes and prevention of Type 1 diabetes, said the funding recognizes the “many wonderful researchers” on […]
USF’s first day of spring classes darkened by power outages
As Jillian Borie walked to the first day of spring classes, she had to take out her phone flashlight when she faced dark hallways and alarm beeps. “I walked into the communications building, and it was completely dark,” the junior mass communications major said. “I thought it was really weird that everyone was standing in […]
USF Sarasota Manatee interim regional chancellor prioritizes growth, community
After over six years of helping lead the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, Brett Kemker is channeling his dedication into his new role as interim regional chancellor. “I felt very honored that the president and provost had that vote of confidence for me and my commitment to student success,” Kemker said. USF announced Kemker as the interim […]