The American Association of University Professors gathered at 34th and Walnut on March 20.
Credit: Sanjana JuvvadiOver 200 members of the Penn community rallied in protest of recent federal actions affecting higher education institutions on Thursday.
Penn professors, students, and local politicians gathered for the March 20 rally — which was held at the intersection of 34th and Walnut streets – to criticize decisions made by Trump's second administration and the University's response. The demonstration was organized by the Penn chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
A social media post promoting the rally called for attendees to “stand together with Penn employees” and urged the University to “not obey in advance.” The post also encouraged individuals to sign a petition which has gathered nearly 1200 signatories at the time of publication.
During the event, speakers criticized the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $175 million in federal funding to Penn for the University's decision to allow 2022 College graduate and transgender athlete Lia Thomas to participate on the women’s swim team. History professor Amy Offner described the decision as an attempt to “intimidate the University [and Penn’s] administration into throwing trans students and colleagues under the bus” and urged Penn to “not capitulate.”
Speakers also emphasized the importance of protecting immigrant students and workers amid concerns about travel bans and visa revocations. College sophomore Gabrielle Cayo read a statement on behalf of Penn for Immigrant Rights, and emphasized the importance of the rally in “making [non-citizen students’] voices heard.”
“We can’t be bullied out of education, you can’t bully people out of leaving this University, and you can’t bully diversity out,” Cayo told The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Rally speakers also expressed concerns about academic freedom amid a “broader attack on academic institutions and free speech.”
“Penn cannot stand by its ‘enduring values and principles of academic freedom’ if its students and staff are too afraid of punitive action to exercise their freedom of speech or even go about their daily lives,” Penn Museum employee Cristina Juarez said.
Several local politicians attended the event, including 2013 Engineering graduate and Pennsylvania State Representative Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) who urged Penn to “demonstrate bold leadership” and “use its immense resources in defense of the student body and its workforce.”
“Penn must act with decisiveness and it must act with courage because what happens here is not isolated to just this campus,” Krajewski said. “The entire country is watching to see who is willing to check the power of this administration.”
State Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) echoed the sentiment and urged Penn to utilize their “power and privilege” as an institution. He also urged students to “be resilient” and “stand up for your principles.”
“This is your moment,” Williams told the crowd. “The next time we come back, we don't need to come back to a corner. We need to come back to a campus.”
Speakers emphasized the importance of union solidarity and “collective power” in protecting the University and University workers. Middle East Studies Librarian Heather Hughes and Librarian for Education Joanna Thompson — who are members of Local 590 Penn Libraries United — said that they "are ready to fight to keep each other safe."
“There is no more powerful tool to stop the forward march of a would-be authoritarian than a people united,” State Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) said, praising the “unwavering bravery and solidarity” of Penn students and workers.
“Your university should be uplifting your voices and following your lead,” Saval said. “But instead, Penn leaders are falling over themselves to comply with Trump's racist, sexist, and tyrannical proclamations.”
Following the speeches, Offner led a group of organizers to College Hall, where they delivered a printed copy of the signed petition to administrators.
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