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QUAKER CAMPUS March 26, 2026

Volume 24 — Issue 10

The voice of Whittier College since 1914

Student Leaders Unite to Protest ICE Los Angeles

Courtesy of Emily Perez-Medina

Students unite to protest ICE. Paola Ruiz NEWS EDITOR ICE Out of Whittier Week brought a series of student-led events to campus from Feb. 27 to March 5, aiming to raise awareness about immigration enforcement and create a space for students to support communities affected by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to student organizer and fourth-year Emily Perez-Medina. Organized by MEChA alongside organizations including KPOET, ASWC Senate, Black Student Association (BSA), Asian Student Association (ASA), and the Quaker Campus (QC), the week featured programming like signmaking workshops, a campuswide march, a poetry open mic, and a letter-writing event. According to Perez-Medina, the goal was to “peacefully protest and demonstrate against ICE presence in Whittier,” while building a sense of community on campus. “I hope that it made the people who are affected feel seen,” PerezMedina shared. “That there is a community here to protect them and that no one is alone.” The week began with “Paint the Rock” on Feb. 27, followed by signmaking workshops held throughout the week in spaces such as the KPOET and QC offices, where students created materials for the march. These early events allowed students to engage with the issue at their own pace before participating in larger demonstrations. The central event of the week, a schoolwide march and live show held March 2 in the campus courtyard, drew the largest turnout, with more than 30 students and faculty participating. The event included a march through campus and along Painter Avenue followed by live music by the band Kasuyama and members of the Grove Poom, creating both a protest space and a community gathering. PerezMedina described the march as a

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key moment where students felt “seen and heard.” Additional events included a poetry open mic on March 4, hosted in Club 88, which featured student performers and drew between 10 and 15 attendees, and a “Write a Letter to Your Senators” event on March 5, encouraging students to engage politically beyond campus. Smallerscale activities such as tabling and letter writing throughout the week saw participation ranging from five to 10 students. According to Perez-Medina, the idea for ICE Out of Whittier Week has been developing for several months, growing alongside student leadership and continued concern over immigration raids occurring both nationally and in communities students are connected to. She stated that the events were

the ground up.” Gomez also emphasized the importance of allowing students to express themselves while maintaining a respectful environment. “All students can speak freely,” he said. “There was no censorship, but we also had to be mindful of language, posters, and making sure demonstrations were respectful to everyone.” According to PerezMedina, Gomez helped navigate administrative concerns by ensuring communication between students and the College, particularly around safety and logistics. Gomez ensured that students were encouraged to plan ahead and use campus resources to support their events. “We want to make sure students know what resources are available and that Student Life is

“My priority is student safety while also honoring advocacy and students exercising their rights,” Gomez commented. “These movements are student-built from the ground up.” driven by the reality that many students on campus are directly affected by immigration policies and there is a need to create spaces for those voices to be heard. “It helps students amplify their voices,” Perez-Medina emphasized. While the events were studentled, organizers worked closely with campus offices, including the Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE), to ensure programming aligned with college policies and prioritized safety. Francisco Gomez, a MEChA advisor and Director of the OIE, said his role was to support students while ensuring their efforts remained structured and safe. “My priority is student safety while also honoring advocacy and students exercising their rights,” Gomez commented. “These movements are student-built from

aware of what’s happening,” Gomez added. “That way, students can feel empowered to organize while still having support systems in place.” Despite the range of events, turnout varied, with Perez-Medina noting that busy student schedules and the campuswide trend of general disengagement, especially later in the semester, posed challenges. “People’s schedules are crazy, and not one time works for everyone,” she added. There is often a general disregard for events during academically demanding periods. Even so, both organizers and advisors emphasized that impact should not be measured solely by attendance. Perez-Medina pointed to the sense of visibility and community created during the week as equally important outcomes. “Participation itself

makes a statement,” she stated. Gomez echoed this idea, noting that student engagement can take different forms. “Protesting can be scary,” he said. “There’s fear of retaliation, but it can also be empowering. Even showing up or supporting in small ways matters.” Student leaders also noted that the week encouraged broader involvement and gave students different ways to engage, whether through attending events, performing, or supporting the planning process. This flexibility allowed students with different comfort levels around activism to participate in meaningful ways. The College administration and faculty were described as largely supportive of the events, with faculty members attending the march and other programming throughout the week. Perez-Medina said this support, combined with guidance from advisors like Gomez, helped create a structured but studentdriven environment. Planning the week required coordination across multiple student organizations, with leaders delegating responsibilities and working collaboratively to promote and execute events. PerezMedina shared that the organizers started small and followed campus guidelines when collaborating with clubs, before gradually building support across campus. While turnout did not meet all expectations, Perez-Medina noted this was anticipated given the College's campus culture. “Whittier is not that activist-heavy,” she added. “It wasn’t a big turnout, but it was still meaningful.” Looking ahead, Perez-Medina expressed optimism about the long-term impact of the week. She said events like these can influence future student-led initiatives by encouraging students to exercise their rights and participate in advocacy. “I think so,” she said when asked whether the week would shape future movements, pointing to larger demonstrations such as Campus Inn worker strikes as examples of how collective action can grow. For Perez-Medina, the week also carried personal significance. She described the experience as “inspiring and healing,” emphasizing the importance of creating space for students to speak on issues that directly affect their lives. “It felt like we needed to make a stance,” she said, adding that the week created hope for the future of the campus community. As ICE Out of Whittier Week concludes, organizers say the events served as both a call to action and a reflection of the challenges of student organizing, balancing advocacy efforts with the realities of student life.

Elections

As Los Angeles approaches its June 2, mayoral primary, voters are facing one of the most crowded and unpredictable races in recent city history. 14 candidates have officially qualified for the ballot, ranging from the incumbent mayor to political newcomers, activists, and business leaders. Homelessness remains one of the most visible and urgent challenges, while housing affordability, public safety, and the rising cost of living have become central concerns for voters. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who was elected in 2022, is seeking reelection after a term defined by policy initiatives and public criticism. Among those challengers is City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who has positioned herself as a progressive alternative to Bass. Raman’s campaign focuses on expanding housing production, strengthening social services, and decreasing homelessness. Spencer Pratt, a media personality, has built his campaign around anti-establishment messaging, criticizing what he describes as ineffective governance and calling for sweeping changes to city systems. Other candidates have centered their campaigns on specific policy areas, particularly with housing and economic justice. Housing advocate Rae Chen Huang has focused on tenant protections, expanding affordable housing, and addressing inequality, while emphasizing a grassroots approach to governance. Entrepreneur Adam Miller has taken a different approach, highlighting innovation and efficiency in city government, proposing that technology and data-driven solutions can improve services and economic development. Polling data from Emerson College suggests that the race remains highly competitive and far from decided. A March 2026 poll found that Karen Bass leads the field with roughly 20 percent support, followed by Spencer Pratt with just over 10 percent and Nithya Raman with around nine percent. Given the structure of Los Angeles elections, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff election in November. With such a large field and divided voter support, a runoff appears increasingly likely, making coalition-building and voter turnout key factors in determining the final outcome. Ultimately, the 2026 mayoral election represents more than a competition between candidates; it reflects broader questions about the future of Los Angeles.