With the recent inauguration of the Trump administration, curiosity has risen about what life will be like, especially for young students in the community. Primarily, students are thinking of one essential question: will anything change?
On January 18th, a march took place in Alamedas main downtown streets and City Hall, full of citizens who want change. Julia Owens, a member of the planning committee for the march, was on the front lines, giving everyone a chance to advocate for their needs.
“[I felt] amazing, super inspired, it was so epic to see such a huge turn out of support and inclusion for Alameda and our community, I’m thrilled,” said Owens. “We started planning in late November or early December, so it came together very quickly. It was a great joint effort with some pretty amazing committee members, to really get stuff done.”
This march was a great opportunity for fellow Alamedans to voice their opinions on this new form of America in a safe but stern manner. Many of the local marchers and online protestors are confused and almost disgusted at the new executive orders that the re-elected president Donald Trump signed during his first couple hours in office.
Rain Munkhbat, a senior at Encinal is very educated and aware of Trump’s new policies and made some great points.
“The executive order that stood out to me was the executive order to remove your citizenship if your parents are undocumented immigrants, which is really interesting because of the 14th amendment,” senior Rain Munkhbat said. “It’s concerning for future generations, and I believe that everyone born in the U.S. should be U.S. citizens.”
The 14th amendment, passed in 1866, and ratified in 1868, states that any person born in the U.S. has equal protection under the law, making them citizens. The violation of this amendment may cause people of various races and ethnicities to live in fear. But Rain isn’t the only one concerned about this violation. Mr. Jarred Fobian, Encinals’ very own world history teacher and political science major, shared similar views.
“The executive order that sticks out to me the most is the executive order of birthright citizens, guaranteed by the 14th amendment. It’s concerning because it’s a very much anti-immigration type thing, where he’s pushing this America first agenda,” said Fobian, “But which agenda is he really pushing? Is he pushing for people who were born here or is he trying to limit immigrants coming here and having children to expand on our country? It seems to be focused on a racial line which is very concerning for a lot of folks.”
Encinal isn’t the only school full of distraught people, on the other side of the island, Alameda Highs students voiced their own opinions.
“For me, it’s such a beautiful thing to see all these people coming together, even though everyone is here for a different reason and has a different reason to fight, everyone is fighting together,” said Alameda Highs junior Amelia Forder. “We all fight for one another and we know we have eachothers backs, and I just think that’s a beautiful thing and it’s so incredibly important. We will continue to fight no matter what and we will be a community and stand strong together.”
Finn Mutrux, an Alameda citizen who no longer goes to school on the island, was in attendance at the march and had this to say.
“I’m extremely passionate about protecting our community in the coming four years. It’s been a struggle for the last eight years and it’s only going to be even more of a struggle coming up,” Finn Mutrux said. “Today has been a great demonstration of solidarity as a community and as humans to protect each other.”
With the new administration in power, many people are worried for their safety. Some don’t know what’s next or what’s to come, but what is assured is that Alameda has a strong community who are willing to not only fight for their own needs, but others as well.
