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| photo by Cat |
Over 20 grassroots organizations oppose incoming Trump administration and expose neglect from Philippine Embassy amid heightened danger for vulnerable migrants in the community
Washington, D.C. — Nearly 150 members of the Filipino community and solidarity allies across the D.C. metropolitan region mobilized in opposition to the incoming Trump administration Monday. The contingent joined over 400 protesters in the streets under the nationwide banner of We Fight Back, speaking out against Trump’s far-right agenda.
photo by Steven Tabuada
The Filipino contingent warned of economic hardship, mass deportations and other dangers the community will face under a second Trump presidency.
After gathering for a program at Meridian Hill Park, protesters marched to the Philippine Embassy, where they denounced the collusion between the American and Philippine governments and how a Trump presidency will continue human rights abuses in the Philippines.
“We will see that [President Ferdinand] Marcos Jr. will continue to intensify militarization in the Philippines,” said Norynne Caleja, of Malaya DC. “We will continue to see the United States bring forth funding for aerial bombings in our peasant communities, in our indigenous lands.”
photo by Vivian Flanagan
Caleja also condemned how the Philippines will continue to be utilized as “prime real estate” by President Trump as a launching pad for war in the Indo-Pacific.
“Our people should not be exploited, our people should not be killed and our people should not be shipped out of the Philippines just for U.S. interests,” she said.
Later, at Dupont Circle, Filipino American youth denounced Trump’s threats to cut education funding and roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools. This funding will instead be allocated to war and militarization abroad that accelerates violations of humanitarian law in places like the Philippines.
Paolo Estrella, of Kabataan Alliance DMV, called out how these budget cuts mirror the education crisis in the Philippines.
photo by Steven Tabuada
“The education system produces low-wage workers for export to be treated as commodities for other nations,” he said. “Because of this, we see millions of Filipinos who left the Philippines to work overseas as migrants in the United States…who will be impacted by the Trump administration and their [plans for] mass deportations.”
Jhong Delacruz, of Migrante DMV, emphasized the need for communities to come together and resist the incoming U.S. administration’s attack on migrants and workers.
“In every case of back-pay won, every immigration status adjusted, every employer held accountable and even a scheduled execution deferred, it is the people’s movement that achieved these,” Delacruz said. “The militant movement pushes those in power to act, not some pen stroke or speech of a government official.”
Delacruz, alongside Migrante USA and other organizations, are pressuring the Philippine Embassy for more transparency and accountability on the services they can provide to Filipino migrants. They are also calling for an end to forced migration.
“We are the ones that will fight and win victories and we will build a society where we don't need to migrate for a better life,” he said. “A Philippines with jobs and industry that can provide, a Philippines where modern day heroes are not modern day slaves, a Philippines free from U.S. occupation and intervention.”
photo by Cat
The Filipino contingent joined the We Fight Back coalition alongside other sectoral, grassroots and national liberation organizations, such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation - Washington, DC, the Diaspora Pa’lante Collective and Palestinian Youth Movement DMV.
To learn more about the Defend Migrant Workers campaign, visit BAYAN USA and Migrante USA's websites.
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