On Thursday, May 28, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar visited Roosevelt High School and presented to a small group of students, staff, and parents, the congressional record that officially recognized the ICE operations that took place on the front lawn of Roosevelt on January 7th and acknowledged the community’s response. As Roosevelt principal, Christian Ledesma, shared in an email, this presentation was a “part of the healing process of this traumatic moment.”
Those invited to attend were Roosevelt community members closely involved with the actual event or part of the response. This includes the leaders of the student walkout, members of the school newspaper who reported on the incident, parent volunteers who organized food donations and rent support, and staff members who put themselves in harm’s way to protect their students.
After the group had gathered in the auditorium, Omar greeted the intimate crowd and asked for individuals in the audience to stand beside her to read aloud sections of the congressional record. This record included an account of ICE operations as well as details about the resilience and bravery of the Roosevelt community. It gave specific praise for the student-walkout, our student newspaper, and the way the Roosevelt community stood their ground and supported one another.
A student organizer of the walkout protest, Clover Ibarra, read aloud from the framed copy: “Together, Roosevelt High stood up for their friends, their families, and their community in the face of oppression. They served as an inspiration to onlookers fighting fascism across the Nation, and as a beacon of hope for countless Minnesotans.”
For many in the room, the recognition was deeply moving and some were brought to tears. As a student editor for the Roosevelt Standard, it felt extremely validating to know that this incident which caused pain and suffering to my community will be officially documented, especially in light of the many transparently false narratives shared by government officials related to Operation Metro Surge.
Preserving this record in the Library of Congress means that the trauma and loss Roosevelt High School endured during Operation Metro Surge will never be forgotten. Just as importantly, it memorializes the impact of the devotion, solidarity, and compassion that this community showed to one another throughout this crisis.
