by Brooklyn Draisey,
Iowa State University students took to the campus library lawn Thursday to protest the immigration detainment of a New York student activist and to support freedom of speech, which some students say has been impeded by federal law.
Binx Hilton, a freshman in the ISU College of Design, said he organized the event to call for Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil’s freedom and for increased protections for international students at U.S. colleges and universities.
“They should have the same free speech rights as every other American,” Hilton said. “And we find that his sudden detainment is unlawful and unconstitutional, because he has not yet been tried, but is still being detained.”
Kahlil, a lawful, permanent resident who completed his master’s degree at Columbia and was involved in pro-Palestine protests on campus, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, March 8. He is currently being detained at an ICE facility in Louisiana after being moved from a detention center in New Jersey.
In addition to chanting “Who’s next?” and holding up signs saying that protest does not equal terrorism and “ICE is not your weapon,” Hilton also handed out information on protesters’ rights and what people should do if detained by police. He said President Donald Trump’s comments about banning masking and deporting protesters have caused worries of more free speech violations to come.
“We are also kind of protesting against that, to be able to have our right to free speech and still get our full and free education,” Hilton said.
ISU students Miranda Jackson and Mahri Vega both joined the protest after seeing it advertised on sidewalks with chalk, making signs at the event urging people to pay attention in history class and opposing censoring history.
“I just think it’s really important to show that we are opinionated and that we actually do care about these kinds of things, and we’re not just going to roll over and let these things happen,” Vega said.
Jackson said she feels like she’s missing out on her history as a Black American as diversity, equity and inclusion-related curriculum and programs are being stripped away, while white students get to learn about whatever they want.
“Iowa State has a community full of a lot of people — it’s diverse,” Jackson said. “There’s Black people, white people, international students, LGBTQ folks, and I want everybody to feel comfortable on campus … it’s obvious that we’re not showing that inclusivity with what’s going on in politics right now, the DEI that they’re taking away.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
