Pete Mendoza
Pete Mendoza | Vaquero Radio
The Sociology Department held “Exploring the Reality of Migrant Families and Human Rights Conference” to raise awareness about the situations on the border last week on the Edinburg campus.
Sociology Lecturer and conference host Jose Villarreal said the conference gave a closer look on the topic of forced migration and gave a sentimental viewpoint from migrant families.
“We need to examine migration more carefully to have a moral worldview in order to understand the complexity that’s involved in migration,” Villarreal said.
Guest speakers from various organizations, including Human Rights Center, the Consulate of Honduras and Proyecto Libertad.
The conference showcased the Kalpulli Ayolopaktzin Aztec dancers at the beginning of the event and as a break in between.
Each speaker gave remarks that not only educated students and faculty, but aimed to inspire and motivate attendees to connect with those in their communities.
Attorney for Whitworth Cigarroa Carlos Flores said to improve the Valley and ensure its safety, people need to communicate with one another.
“We have to get out of this us versus them narrative and go speak to the stranger,” Flores said. “To solve our problem, we need to encounter the stranger, which is us.”
Students were even given the opportunity to ask questions after each speech and discuss their thoughts even further afterward as a group.
Texas Civil Rights Humanitarian Outreach Coordinator Denise Molina addressed a question from a student about protesting, in which she said a protest is a call to action to defend people’s rights and to express the people’s thoughts.
“I always tell young folks, ‘If you don’t do it, who else will?’” Molina said.
This is Pete Mendoza for Vaquero Radio.
