Hundreds of demonstrators crowded downtown Tucson on Jan. 20 to protest President Donald Trump’s recent foreign policy and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The exhibition, organized by the Defend Tucson Coalition, coincided with the first year of Trump’s second term and drew participation from University of Arizona students, faculty and Tucson community members. 

Protestors waved signs donning slogans such as “ICE Melts in Tucson” and “Be Good” to the cars honking in support as they walked down Congress Street. 

The protest followed a student walkout earlier in the day at the UA Women and Gender Resource Center, where students left classes in solidarity to join the larger downtown march. Representatives of the Defend Tucson Coalition — which includes more than 20 local grassroots organizations — expressed that the protest was called on the anniversary of Trump’s second term to resist a wide swathe of federal policies, including increased immigration enforcement and reductions in social programs.

“ This coalition was formed a couple months ago when we saw that federal agents had been deployed to LA [Los Angeles] and Chicago, and we decided that we need a coalition here in Tucson to defend our immigrant neighbors and to defend each other from Trump’s overreach and authoritarianism,” said protestor and Tucson resident  Raquel Mogollon. “ Trump has been attacking our fundamental rights on all fronts; terrorizing our immigrant communities, cutting us vital aid for food programs, accelerating the destruction of our environment and doing nothing as healthcare costs are set to dramatically spike.”

Mogollon explained how fear surrounding immigration enforcement has affected families throughout Tucson, particularly children and workers in immigrant households. She believes that these deportations discourage people from reporting crimes and participating fully in public life, which has additional negative effects on public safety and the local economy.

“Children are frightened to go to school. They’re seeing their parents frightened and families are being torn apart. This is terror for a lot of families, emotionally, economically and socially,” she said.

The Craftivists of Tucson outlined chalk silhouettes intended to commemorate individuals organizers described as victims of immigration enforcement and border violence, such as Renee Good, Josué Castro Rivera and Santos Banegas Reyes. 

Many in attendance banged pots and pans to partake in the cacerolazo, a form of nonviolent protest famously utilized in Latin American nations to express dissent against governments and social issues.

“​​ This has a beautiful, powerful tradition throughout all of Latin America; when things were at their worst, people came out with their pots and pans […] they just got out and told the world, we are here and we are not giving up” Mogollon said. “So here we are.”

“[My first cacerolazo] was in Colombia in 2019, and they did the same thing we’re doing now. It was a historic cacerolazo because there was so much oppression; people were disappearing, we were fighting just for our basic democratic rights,” she said.

UA students played a visible role in the protest, many of whom arrived after participating in the walkout at the Women and Gender Resource Center. Arian Chavez, a second-year chemical engineering student and an organizer with the student chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, noted that students attended to mark the anniversary of Trump’s presidency and oppose both immigration enforcement and U.S. foreign policy actions. Chavez criticized U.S. endeavors in Venezuela and Gaza, saying that Trump’s administration had supported policies he views as violations of international law. 

“In this short time, we’ve already seen heightened militarization at the border and in immigrant communities,” Chavez said. “Weeks ago, the Trump administration violated international law by kidnapping Nicolas Maduro, the sitting president of Venezuela, and is now trying to pass a U.N. resolution about the division between the Gaza border and Israel. This resolution is an unjust resolution. There is no negotiation on behalf of the people in Gaza.”

Alexandra Reynoso, a UA sophomore, explained that she attended the protest to support migrant communities and oppose what she described as increased brutality by law enforcement agencies.

“There’s been a lack of accountability when it comes to brutality by police and ICE,” Reynoso said. “People are being hurt, and no one is being held responsible.”

According to Reynoso, she feels that now is the time to speak up more than ever. 

“As the daughter of a migrant and a first-generation college student, I’m here to support every immigrant that works hard every single day to build this country,  and as a descendant of slaves, I am here to ensure that migrants are here to fucking stay,” Reynoso said. 

Mogollon stated that the protest was meant to encourage long-term civic engagement and remind people of their collective power. She encouraged students to get involved any way they can, listing resources such as takeactiontucson.org and connecting with communities. 

“ Remember that, as hard as it’s getting and as ugly as it’s getting, that the people are the ones that have the ultimate power,” Mogollon said. “We have to remember that hopelessness doesn’t get to win. People power does.”