Students March FOR America

The goal for March FOR America is to bring communities together to ask our government to start acting. Three BVU students will have the opportunity to visit Iowa Legislators in Washington D.C. on Mar. 22.
The reform bill they are trying to bring to the table is The Gutierrez Immigration Bill. What this bill will do is allow undocumented immigrants a clean path towards citizenship.

To do this however, they will need to demonstrate they have been working, pay a $500 fine, learn to speak and communicate in the English language, and undergo a criminal background check. The aim is to let legislators know that it is time to put their words into action.

Senior Janet Pedroza is playing a very large role in this move towards human rights and social justice.

According to Pedroza, during President Obama’s first year in presidency he promised to work on an immigration reform bill. He is now well into his term as president but there has been no progress in this claim. There is still a lot of violence, many deportations, and many racist attacks taking place. This trip is being sponsored by BVU staff and faculty.

“This is not what America is about and we want to remind our legislators that we have a duty and right to demand them to act. BVU students will unite with millions of students, community leaders, organizations, other community members and activists to take the streets of Washington D.C. to let our government know that we are here and we want them to get something solved,” Pedroza said.

The goals our BVU students have in taking part in this movement are to unite communities together and form an alliance that will bring relief to American families, and to our economy, and to get Buena Vista county and other Iowa counties involved in this discussion.

“Americans have always liked challenges, democracy, and open discussion, through this particular issue; we can allow the world to see who we truly are and what we truly value,” Pedroza said.

There are over 700 agencies and organizations sponsoring March FOR America.

Our students at Buena Vista University are being sponsored by BVU staff and faculty because it allows BVU students to become an active voice in politics and to take initiative in a grassroots movement.