By Mary Feusner

Washington State Journal

Hundreds gathered on the steps of the Legislative Building in Olympia March 10 to protest the treatment of immigrants across the United States for Latino Legislative Day.

Protesters carried signs that read, “Immigrants make America great,” “Fight ignorance not immigrants,” “My dreams are bigger than your walls” and “No one is illegal on stolen land.”

Brittany Gutierrez Aquino, a student at Cedarcrest High School, said she and her friends created posters and joined the rally to support their families and those unable to attend or speak up for themselves.

The Latino Civic Alliance’s 20th anniversary event began at noon with Folkloric dances performed by students from Mount Vernon High School. The group showcased traditional dances from Jalisco and Sinaloa, Mexico, including Los Capris and El Toro Mambo.

With over 100 students, the Mount Vernon School District Mariachi and Folklorico program is the largest Mariachi in Western Washington. The dancers represent a large range of heritages from across Mexico. Mount Vernon High School is diverse; the group welcomes people of all cultures and races, Folklorico dancer Marisa Mendoza said.

“With everything going on right now, it is important to represent our culture and not be ashamed,” Mendoza said, “We are a united group and there’s no breaking us.”

During the event, the Latino Civic Alliance presented Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, with the 2025 Latino Civic Award and House speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, with the Honorary 2025 Civic Award.

“We cannot be stopped. We will not be stopped. We are a part of the American Dream, and we will continue to fight for that,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo.

In his speech, Gov. Bob Ferguson highlighted the importance of the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division, created while he was Attorney General in 2015. The division is dedicated to protecting the civil rights of everyone in Washington state.

It was with the help of the department that Ferguson was able to fight against President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in 2017. If the program had been dissolved it would have put nearly 18,000 Dreamers in Washington at risk for deportation, Ferguson said.

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