DREAMers and activists from United We Dream Action interrupted Marco Rubio at the Kemp forum in South Carolina this past weekend to call out his anti-DACA attacks as his campaign continues to veer to the right.
Since championing comprehensive immigration reform in 2013, Senator Rubio has consistently walked back his support for the immigrant community, first pledging to defund the President’s recently announced DACA+ and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parental Accountability) Program and further hardening his stance by promising to end DACA. Today, activists called Sen. Rubio out for speaking at the Kemp Forum for Expanding Opportunity, while pledging to end DACA, which would expand opportunities to more than 700,000 young immigrants.
Several groups of activists — all of whom were eventually escorted out of the event following the interruptions — held signs reading “DACA Equals Opportunity” and “Rubio Wants To Deport Me”.
BREAKING: Immigrant youth confront Senator @marcorubio at #KempForum16 to call him out on his anti-immigrant rhetoric. #RubioNightmare -uwdA
— UnitedWeDream.org (@UNITEDWEDREAM) January 9, 2016
.@marcorubio was confronted by @UNITEDWEDREAM at #KempForum16 – responded with #DonaldTrump joke #immigration
— Juan Escalante (@JuanSaaa) January 9, 2016
Immigrant youth confront Senator @marcorubio at #KempForum16 to call him out on his anti-immigrant rhetoric. -uwdA https://t.co/ThkJjKrMau — UnitedWeDream.org (@UNITEDWEDREAM) January 9, 2016
.@marcorubio is turning his back on immigrants like his parents who risked everything to live&work in U.S #RubioNightmare #KempForum16 -uwdA — UnitedWeDream.org (@UNITEDWEDREAM) January 9, 2016
Protestors escorted out shouting “undocumented and unafraid” pic.twitter.com/5dDufNquJC — Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) January 9, 2016
.@marcorubio, an immigrant himself, wants to repeal #DACA & efforts that make it easier for immigrants to live w/ dignity #KempForum16 -uwdA — UnitedWeDream.org (@UNITEDWEDREAM) January 9, 2016
When @marcorubio pledges to deport Dreamers he creates fear for immigrants who are working to pursue their dreams #RubioNightmare -uwdA — UnitedWeDream.org (@UNITEDWEDREAM) January 9, 2016
No tienes verguenza @marcorubio hablas de tus padres inmigrantes pero al mismo tiempo quieres deportarnos #RubioNightmare #KempForum16 — Julieta Garibay (@dreamelder) January 9, 2016
.@marcorubio using his #Immigrant story at #KempForum16 & yet wants to take away any & all opportunity from immigrants #RubioNightmare — Julieta Garibay (@dreamelder) January 9, 2016
Ironic @marcorubio at #KempForum16 talking abt ‘Expanding Opportunity” yet he wants to deport immigrants & take #DACA away #RubioNightmare — Julieta Garibay (@dreamelder) January 9, 2016
More protesters: “Undocumented and unafraid!” Rubio laughs: “I’m going to keep talking through this.” Ryan: “I’m pretty used to this.” — McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) January 9, 2016
We’ll fight back against any politician who wants to deport our families. Join us! –> https://t.co/cjBMTs7Zlq -uwdA pic.twitter.com/2SaYugEPjT — UnitedWeDream.org (@UNITEDWEDREAM) January 9, 2016
A compilation of the interruptions is below, via American Bridge:
“This morning I confronted Marco Rubio on his anti-immigrant, anti-DACA rhetoric that seeks to take away the program that allows me to work, pursue my dreams, and be protected from deportation. He has turned his back on the immigrant community and we will continue to stand up to his attacks,” said Deya Aldana, a DREAMer from New Jersey.
“Today we saw that Rubio wants to have it both ways: position himself as the successful son of a humble immigrant family while stepping on the dreams of all other immigrants,” said Kathy Del Hoyo, another DREAMer and a journalism student at North Carolina A&T State University.
“The immigrant community cannot allow someone who continues to rally against us to become President of this nation founded by immigrants.”
