Jo Brown
"People look at students as people who don't have opinions-- as these vessels who are meant to work and create. But I think it's important as students especially to get out here and show our opinion because our opinions are important, our opinions are powerful, our time is valuable, and all of these things are important-- It's important to show what we care about," Organizer and Normal West Sophomore, Oriah Matich, explains.
On February 15, at noon, protesters gathered against the attack on federal DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs.
The protest was led by Normal West students and organized by a BloNo non-profit, Punks Against Tyranny.
The protesters marched, chanted, gave speeches, and preformed all while holding signs to fight for what they believed in.
The last protest organized by Punks Against Tyranny only had about seven people involved; however, in the recent protest, more than ten people arrived and marched.
“It makes me feel really proud. I feel so proud of my community, I feel so proud of myself. I feel a lot of pride in the community that I built, and the people that are around me. I love seeing everyone come out,” Organizer and Normal West Sophomore, Oriah Matich, stated.
“My advice to students who think they can’t do anything is that you absolutely can. There is nothing stopping you except yourself. I know that parents are scary and teachers are scary (…) I do all this stuff, and it’s not because I’m not scared, I am scared: I’m terrified that someday someone’s going to [attack] me (…). But I do it anyway, I do it scared because I believe in what I’m doing,” Matich added.
View the slideshow of photos from the event.