On Tuesday, a crowd gathered on Olvera Street as part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration’s detainment of Rumeysa Ozturk. Ozturk is a PhD candidate who was detained by federal agents in Somerville, Massachusetts, last Tuesday.
“We are screaming from here in Los Angeles and fifteen other cities, ‘Free Rumeysa’,” bellowed a rally organizer from a megaphone.
Ozturk, a Turkish national in the U.S. on a student visa, co-authored an opinion essay critical of Tufts University for not sanctioning Israel for its war in Gaza. In January, President Trump signed an executive order to “deport Hamas sympathizers and revoke student visas.” The Trump administration claims Ozturk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas.”
Ozturk is also a member of her local Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, chapter. In the U.S. and Canada, the union represents 2 million workers, many of whom protested across the country on Tuesday for Ozturk’s release and for what the labor union called an “ongoing assault on the 1rst Amendment.” The union is demanding the release of Ozturk and Lewelyn Dixon, another SEIU member who has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention since February.
“Immigration Enforcement has been practicing this for decades, but now they’re targeting students. Who knows when they’re going to start going after citizens as well with similar situations,” said local SEIU organizer Pedro Trujillo.
Pastor Stephen Cue Jamawwi was among the protestors showing their support.
“Whatever it is, wherever injustice shows up, we’ve got to show up because injustice to one is injustice to all until we’re all free,” Jamawwi said.
Lety Salcedo, an SEIU member, echoed similar sentiments for protesting.
“We have the right to free speech, and we have the right for our people to live in dignity and to be able to thrive in this country, including immigrants,” Salcedo said.
Alongside the nationwide protests on Tuesday, SEIU launched a major ad campaign featuring Ozturk and how her detainment violates her First Amendment right.