Students Resist: Fordham Stands With Immigrants

 (Photo: Joe Catron/MintPress)

Fordham University is part of a large group of students studying in New York City. On February 7th, 2017, one student brings together college and high school students alike to participate in a rally to show support for Muslim students and immigrants. At 12:00 PM EST, a group of Fordham Students join Hebh Jamal’s Walkout For a Better Tomorrow by leaving campus and traveling downtown to Foley Square. This will demonstrate NYC Student’s rejection of hatred, racism, and xenophobia as the group raises their voice to ensure that the lift on the Muslim ban stays in place.

This is the second protest in the past week that Fordham Students have participated in to demonstrate their refusal to accept overt racism and xenophobia. Fordham students, faculty and alum are working tirelessly to help those directly affected. Alum Chris Hennessy was mentioned in a New York Times article illustrating the values that are in place at Fordham University. Several clubs and organizations gathered last week to hold a demonstration on the Plaza to explicate their position in regards to the executive orders.

On January 29, 2017, Fordham University’s President, Father Joseph McShane, addressed President Trump’s executive order to restrict the ability to travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries as well as suspending the U.S. refugee program indefinitely in a campus-wide email. McShane sent a list of resources that might aid undocumented students and ensured students and faculty that “Fordham University stands with the tens of thousands of refugees and would-be immigrants affected.” As a University that was founded by the Jesuit Order to provide education to the immigrant population of New York, Fordham University is dedicated to the protection of all who may be affected by this ban.