Over 100 protesters gathered outside of the Administration Building at 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, to demand Stony Brook University to protect its international, undocumented and immigrant communities, specifically the 11 international students whose visas have been revoked.
Protesters included Stony Brook students, faculty and community members who came to show their solidarity. Many held signs with messages such as “Immigrants make Stony Brook,” “Is Wolfie a [federal agent]?” and “diversity is our strength — not the bogeyman,” the last of which featured a cut-out photo of President Donald J. Trump.
Certain protesters in neon vests passed around fliers that listed the constitutional rights of citizens and non-citizens alike, and warned students not to cooperate with immigration agents on the basis of their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights or without first speaking to a lawyer.
This protest followed a previous demonstration held on Feb. 13, during which protesters delivered a list of demands to Interim President Richard L. McCormick. The original demands insisted that the University take actions to affirm their commitment to supporting undocumented, international and non-citizen students and staff.
However, since 11 international students had their visas revoked, an additional five demands were added.
Among these new demands, one insisted the University provide emergency funds, immigration lawyers, free housing and free food to students and staff with revoked visas. Additionally, the demands asserted that Stony Brook’s Enterprise Risk Management, University Police Department (UPD) and administrative officials should not share information with federal agents without a signed judicial warrant.
Anthoni Haynes, a senior majoring in environmental design, policy and planning, began the protest with a chant of, “No cops, no KKK, no fascist USA” and “No ICE, no rights, no fascist USA.”
He repeatedly shouted alongside crowd statements like “No borders, no nations, end deportations” and “Up up with liberation, down down with deportation.”
Haynes then read aloud a speech to show support toward the entire international, undocumented and immigrant community.
“Today, we are here in unison to rally on behalf [of the 11 international students] and to counteract [these] actions,” he said. “[But,] we are not just talking about international students. We are talking about immigrant households, our faculty, our staff, our classmates, our colleagues and friends. If you were to take each and every one of us away, there wouldn’t be a damn thing left on this campus.”
He said the administration must take action in response to the visa revocations and questioned how they intend to do so.
“We are calling on the administrators that conduct and manage the affairs of Stony Brook University,” Haynes shouted. “What are you doing to address this issue? If these students aren’t sleeping because their visas were snatched, you shouldn’t be either.”
“We are the powerhouse of this University. Immigrants are the powerhouse of this University,” he continued. “We will tear the hell out of this campus if our demands are not met!”
Josh Dubnau, a professor in both the Department of Anesthesiology and the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and the director of the Center for Developmental Genetics, then delivered another speech.
“We are witnessing a historic assault on academia … [The Trump administration is] attacking academic freedom. They are attacking free speech and they are attacking the people who are at our University,” Dubnau said.
He emphasized the protesters’ willingness to work with administration to better protect international students on campus.
“There is an opportunity for us to work in solidarity with the people who work in the [Stony Brook] administration. In principle, we have a common goal of defending our University, defending our students, our faculty, our staff,” Dubnau shouted. “In the long term, we have a shared interest with the leadership of this University. But it seems the University administration needs an education, they need some leadership, they need a lesson on the history of fascism.”
He then criticized the University’s response to the concerns of some students over the potential of deportation.
“We repeatedly asked how this University is preparing for the inevitability that students here would be targeted for deportation as punishment for their identities or for their speech … Now in response we have recently gotten messages telling us that if [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] comes to campus, we should call UPD,” Dubnau yelled. “I’m a white cisgendered male over 50 with tenure and a [United States] citizen, [but] even I know calling the cops doesn’t protect people from ICE!”
Oluwatoyin Kupoluyi, a junior double majoring in political science and journalism, then delivered a speech on behalf of an international student. She explained that the student chose to remain anonymous and did not attend the protest out of fear.
“I want to believe that I’m a good citizen and part of the community and I deserve a place [here],” the speech read. “I don’t even want to go home this summer because I’m scared of [the U.S. Government] not letting me back in.”
“I am scared. I feel alone,” Kupoluyi read. “I have been crying nonstop for almost a week now and I feel that at any moment I am at risk of losing my entire life and I don’t know what I would do if that happened.”
After a series of speeches concluded, the protesters walked in a line into the Administration Building, filling the hallways and ceasing their chants. They read their demands aloud to the Office of the Provost and gave a printed list of them. Afterward, all the protesters quickly left the building with no disruption or incidents.
Noah, a protester who requested anonymity for his last name over safety concerns, expressed his commitment to the cause.
“I want to convey to the administration that we will stand with our fellow students and faculty and that we will not take it if they give in to Trump’s wishes,” Noah said. “I will keep defending my peers and community members by helping raise awareness and protesting if our concerns are not addressed.”
In an email to The Statesman, the University said they are doing their due diligence to provide their best support to undocumented and international groups.
“Stony Brook University continues to do everything possible to support our impacted students,” University officials wrote. “We are working closely with SUNY and state partners to provide legal resources and academic guidance while taking every effort to protect the identities of the 11 students affected. Our Office of Global Affairs remains in direct contact with the students, ensuring they have personalized support and guidance every step of the way.”
