Tulane Students for a Democratic Society Statement on Alejandro Orellana

TUL SDS condemns US Attorney Bilal Essayli’s racist prosecution of immigrants’ rights activist Alejandro Orellana! Alejandro is a hero in his community. We demand that the FBI witch hunt against him be stopped immediately! The Trump administration has shown that it is dead set on increasing attacks on the people who dare to stand up and fight back. As they increase their attacks, we vow to meet the challenge. We will raise our organizing to a fever pitch to defend each other, and we will not back down!

The DOJ is charging Alejandro with “conspiracy to commit civil unrest” and “aiding and abetting civil disorder” because they allegedly drove a car that carried water and personal protective equipment during the L.A. uprisings. We know that protesting isn’t a crime, and trying to keep your community safe certainly isn’t either! The law continues to be manipulated to endorse Donald Trump’s agenda of forceful compliance from civilians and organizers.

There is a long history of the federal government stepping in to oppress Chicano and Latino people in the Southwestern United States. Starting from the Mexican-American War, where the US stole those lands for expansion, the Bracero program, which legalized the racist exploitation of migrants, to Trump’s violent ICE raids today. We know that when the feds intervene on Chicano land, it is harmful for the working people of the United States. This case is no different, as the FBI witch hunt against Alejandro aims to quell the heroic resistance of the people of L.A.

As students fighting for change at Tulane and in New Orleans, we are prepared to make the fight for Alejandro’s freedom a fight that our enemies will have to fight from coast to coast. Alejandro is facing five years in prison if they are found guilty at their trial on August 26th. We stand in solidarity with those resisting ICE in Los Angeles and their refusal to accept the state violence deployed to tarnish dissent.