Pierce Mobilizes with Protests

Students, faculty and staff gathered on the Mall at Pierce College in a walkout on Wednesday, Nov. 16, to protest of some statements made by President-elect Donald Trump. Their chants echoed, “No Trump! No KKK! No Fascist USA!”

Fliers circulated through social media, providing details for the planned walkout at Pierce College, “We Make America Great.” Students, staff and faculty rallied at the bull statue on campus at 11 a.m. and then went to meet with other schools in the San Fernando Valley at Van Nuys City Hall at 2 p.m.

Pierce College Modern Languages Department Chair and AFT Chapter President Fernando Oleas sent out an email to faculty and staff regarding the walkout to Van Nuys City Hall to encourage faculty and staff to protest with the students.

Oleas asked for collective participation because he said the importance of this social movement is to demonstrate solidarity and fight against racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and to protect and stand with other vulnerable groups.

“We want to make sure that you guys know, that you are not alone in this,” Oleas said. “There’s a huge support, making sure that education is not disturbed. We are here as important members of our society to improve our lives and our conditions. We are looking for a change that is positive.”

Jack Kearns, a first-year student at Pierce and a member of the Students Organizing for Success (SOS) Club, said that he and 10 other students in the club organized the walkout on Monday, Nov. 14 and began handing out fliers for the event on Tuesday.

“We are trying to show not just, Pierce, but also the country, that college students, among many others, are against the rhetoric and the violence that is happening from the Trump election and we are going to fight against it together,” Kearns said. Sheriff’s Deputy Alfred Guerrero said that he was first informed about the walkout by fliers handed out on campus. He said his primary concern was the safety of the Pierce community.

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Above Right: Students from Valley College and Pierce College who did not want to be identified, sit in front of Van Nuys City Hall and have pizza during a protest following the results of the 2016 election on Nov. 16, 2016 in Van Nuys, Calif.

Right: Students and faculty from Valley College and Pierce College gather in a circle at the end of their protest of the election as well as racism, xenophobia and hate speech on the steps of Van Nuys City Hall on Nov. 16, 2016 in Van Nuys, Calif.