Around two dozen DREAMer’s gathered in front of the Democratic National Committee to protest, criticizing the Democrats for failing to fix the endangered DREAM act.
They gathered with signs, bullhorns, the works and even went as far as to block the front doors of the DNC — refusing staff entrance or exit from the building.
“The Democrats party has never been on my side,” another protester said. Another said Democrats left DREAMers “hanging by a thread.”
“I am here today to tell Democrats that they are not my allies and I will continue to fight and show that I will not collaborate with them until they do something for my community” the protester said before calling Democrats “fake allies.”
“If you won’t let us dream,” protesters chanted, “we won’t let you sleep!”
Some activists dressed in white wigs and held canes signifying that it has been 17 years for any national Democrats to act on DREAMer legislation.
The protesters prepared a press release about their intentions:
“Inbox: “DACA recipients and allies dressed up with white wigs, canes, and walkers, staged a sit-in blocking the entrance to the DNC Headquarters to dramatize the 17-year-long wait for Congress to pass the DREAM Act.””
Inbox: “DACA recipients and allies dressed up with white wigs, canes, and walkers, staged a sit-in blocking the entrance to the DNC Headquarters to dramatize the 17-year-long wait for Congress to pass the DREAM Act.”
— Anita Kumar (@anitakumar01) March 5, 2018
From George Town:
The DREAM Act, as introduced by Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch in 2001 (s. 1291), would create a process by which immigrants would be able to apply for conditional residency, leading to permanent residency, based upon their age at time of entry into the United States. S. 1291 would have required applicants to provide proof that he or she entered the United States before the age of 16 and has continuously lived in the United States for five years to establish conditional residency.
Additionally, the applicant would need to have graduated from a high school in the United States, or obtained a GED; demonstrates good moral character; pass a criminal background review.
Once conditional residency was established, and the applicant had been a resident for six years, the applicant would be able to apply for permanent residency by demonstrating: attendance at a post-secondary educational institution, or service in the United States military for at least 2 years or received an honorable discharge; pass additional background checks; continued demonstration of good moral character.