Protesters gather in Joplin Saturday to oppose deportation policies
For the second week in a row, demonstrators gathered in the area to protest deportation efforts and other legislation they believe targets immigrants.
On Saturday, dozens of people lined the intersection of Seventh Street and Range Line Road in Joplin.
Priscila Orozco was holding signs with a group of her friends. She said they attended Saturday to stand for their parents and for those who couldn't be there.
'Most of us are kids of immigrants,' Orozco said. 'It's tough to see our parents walk around and be nervous. It's bad because we feel really helpless because we can't do anything to make our parents feel more comfortable.
"It's not fair because our parents are really good people, and a lot of people we know are immigrants, and it's sad to see them scared at this time.'
The protest also brought people representing many causes to the busy street corner, including those representing 4-States-4 Free Palestine, Joplin for Justice, LGBTQ+ rights and support for immigrants. McKenna Pulsipher helped organize Saturday's protest and said people from all causes are coming together to stand up for voices they believe are marginalized.
'This community needs to see us and know what we stand for,' Pulsipher said. 'Believing that your voice doesn't matter is where we begin to fail those who need us most.'
For Maria Lopez, another organizer of the protest, ending racism and racial profiling is a big issue for her. She is half Caucasian and half Guatemalan, and said she has been called an illegal immigrant because of her skin color.
'Jesus loves every human being, no matter what color you are,' Lopez said. 'If he was here today, he would be here with us.'
Holding her sign that read 'Hate Never Made America Great,' Orozco said it was good to see young people out there because it means they're becoming aware of the issues.
'They're beginning to see that it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I feel like we can make a difference, we're all together, we can all stand out.'
Hundreds of people gathered at Central Park in Carthage and near the Carthage Public Library along Garrison Avenue on Feb. 1, also protesting deportation efforts and other legislation they believe targets immigrants.
Many waved flags of Guatemala, Mexico, other Latin American nations and the United States.
Ellen Leon, an organizer of the first protest in Carthage, said there is a sense of fear within the Hispanic community in Carthage.
The protests follow confirmation from Carthage police Chief Bill Hawkins that officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were in Carthage. Hawkins told the Globe recently that agency officials came to the Carthage police station last week and announced they would be in town.
'They implied it would be for an undetermined time and they would be here frequently,' Hawkins said. 'But I'm not aware of anyone who was taken into custody.'
Hawkins told the Globe on Monday that he hadn't heard anything else from Immigration and Customs Enforcement since then.
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