UMKC YDSA hosts Know Your Rights training on ICE

 UMKC’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) hosted an informational “Know Your Rights Training” event on March 16 for students looking to educate themselves about ICE. 

  YDSA is a student-run, anti-capitalist organization that is focused on assembling students for progressive change on and off campus. 

  “We believe capitalism is a failing system, and the only way forward is through socialism,” said YDSA Co-chair Samuel Lamar.

  Lamar described the event as educational. 

   “People don’t know what’s happening. We’re telling people what’s happening and what they can do about it while responding properly,” he said.

  “Historically, students have been very involved in activism,” said YDSA Co-chair Ainsley Heffern, “and they will continue to be involved.”

  Heffern said that as an executive member of YDSA, they are in a position to hear out the needs and wants of the student body. “We implement that, with the help of my fellow YDSA members, in a way that is organized and creates change to combat the issues students face,” they said. 

  “We have an obligation to combat tools of state violence that capitalism uses to reproduce itself everywhere on and off campus,” Lamar said. “Our obligation is to be there and combat that in whatever way we can.” 

  Lamar said there have been instances of people causing commotion by posting unverified ICE sightings on YikYak. 

  “It spreads that fear and ignorance of what ICE is, that can have some pretty bad consequences,” he said. 

  “People are angry and scared, and are acting in a way that is indicative of such,” Heffern said. “Know Your Rights gives them the tools that they need to combat what they’re mad about.” 

  The executive members want the informational event to have higher attendance. Heffern believes in the importance of teaching students to protect themselves. 

  “The board hasn’t taken any protective measures, and this is a threat to our school’s safety. We need to take it upon ourselves to protect students and faculty,” said Heffern. 

  “If more people come to this, they can get the resources they need to not spread fear and anger, but actually find solutions,” said Lamar. 

  Updates on YDSA’s Know Your Rights Training events are posted on the organization’s Instagram.