The winter morning was chilling, carrying a crisp winter breeze, icy slush on the ground and the earthy aroma of roasted coffee steaming from Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe. This was not an average morning in Northwest D.C., however, as hundreds of protestors, including Howard University students, transformed Georgia Avenue into a sea of black clothing and strong resolve.
On Friday, Howard University students participated in protesting the ongoing presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and beyond. This was part of a broader national effort to discourage work and shopping during the last weekend of January as a show of unity to the government.
The day began at 12:45 PM on the steps of Sankofa, where the crowd was greeted by a series of speeches designed to amp up the collective spirit. Organizers shouted through megaphones, reminding the sea of students that their presence was a duty to those detained or silenced.
As the march set out toward the White House, they encountered members of the Metropolitan Police Department. While some protesters were concerned that law enforcement would be a barrier to their goal, officers actively helped lead the march, blocking off major intersections and ensuring the safety of the students.
Some protesters also felt the reaction from D.C. drivers was also unexpected. Despite the disruption to traffic, with cars forced to turn around or wait, there was no visible anger. Instead, the drivers honked in support of the protest, some even raising fists from the windows, some joining in on the chants; it was a display of city-wide solidarity.
Michelle Sydnore, a freshman biology major and chemistry and women’s intersectionality double minor, felt grateful for the support of local residents.
“I feel like we’re making a lot of progress. People are coming outside, banging pots and pans, honking their horns,” Sydnore said. “It’s amazing to see how many people care about what’s happening in the world and are willing to take time out of their day to come and help us protest.”
The crowd broke into “Move ICE, get out the way! Get out the way ICE, get out the way!” to the tune of a popular song by Disturbing Tha Peace and Ludacris. This was followed by a steady cadence of “The people united will never be divided!” and “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” Amidst the shouting and anger, there were moments of sadness with protestors seen weeping.
For some Howard students, this was their first time attending a protest. Rowan Harden, a freshman criminology major, expressed a mixture of emotions, including excitement, fear and exhaustion.
“This isn’t new, this is kind of how America has always been but it’s crossing into a weird territory. It’s reminiscent of slave catching and a little scary. I don’t want to keep growing up in an America that continues to become progressively worse,” Harden said.
As the march reached the White House, the variety of signs held high told the story of the movement: “Abolish, Impeach, Prosecute,” “Que se largue trump ya,” “Chinga la mirgra,” and “No more ICE, no more terror.”
For students, consuming news on social media and knowing people who could be directly impacted by ICE were major motivations for attending, even if it meant skipping class. Jameel McDaniel, a sophomore Chemistry major, expressed the importance of physically being in attendance for protests.
“I realized when I was going to TikTok that nothing would happen if I was in the house liking posts. The big motivator of change is really getting outside, being part of the community and working to make it better,” McDaniel said.
He also shared observations from his experiences as a resident assistant.
“This isn’t happening to random people. It’s happening to colleagues, friends and family members, and it’s crazy how many people are at risk,” McDaniel said. “Even if I didn’t know anybody personally, I think it’s still important to get out even in this weather and fight for what’s right.”
When asked why student-led protests are important, McDaniel said, “The next generation starts with us. I think it’s important to get Howard people together especially because our school is rooted in social activism hence our ‘In Truth and Service.’”
By the time the sun began to set on the White House, the thick atmosphere of the afternoon settled into a quiet but determined resolve. The students of Howard University and the residents of the DMV area had sent their message, and Washington was forced to listen.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore and Kennedi Bryant
