Trump wall riles WSU students
Mexican Immigrant and WSU student Andrea Chavez, 21, speaks about crossing the boarder when she was six-months-old during the WSU College Republicans Trump Wall demonstration and Unity Rally counter protest on the WSU campus Wednesday in Pullman, Wash. (Colin Mulvany/SR photo)
PULLMAN – Washington State University became a hotbed of political activism Wednesday when a small group of students erected a plywood wall in the center of campus to show support for Donald Trump and his proposal to build a wall along the country’s southern border.
The demonstration drew hundreds of protesters, mostly students, who spent hours chanting and toting signs to denounce the controversial Republican nominee. They criticized not only Trump’s immigration stance but also his comments about women, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims and Native Americans.
“I’ve been through four elections here, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Katy Fry, a history professor who started teaching at WSU in 2004. “I canceled my classes to encourage my students to come out and see the political process. I don’t care what side they’re on – I just want them to be observant and engaged.”
The wall went up shortly before 11 a.m. on the Glenn Terrell Friendship Mall and came down three hours later, as protesters shouted at the Trump supporters, “Take it down faster!” The wall was about 8 feet tall and 20 feet wide, painted to look like bricks and featured the word TRUMP written in a gold spray paint.
Many accused the Trump supporters of racism and xenophobia.
“They really don’t want Mexicans or diversity at WSU,” said Haley Delgado, a biology student whose parents emigrated from Mexico. “I had classes and meetings today, and all I could think about was this wall being built.”
The Friendship Mall quickly became a stage for countless topics of national discussion/Chad Sokol, SR. More here.
