By DANIELA SALINAS
Tiger Media Network
Amid rising concerns related to Project 2025 and how it relates to issues such as accessibility in education, the LGBTQ+ community, mass deportation, and citizenship rights being jeopardized by government policies, organizations and students at Fort Hays State University organized a protest in Hays on Saturday to raise awareness for these concerns.
The Black Student Union, Social Work Club, and Gender and Sexuality Alliance led the protest with the goal of “being the change.” Their shared goal was to raise awareness, be heard, and seek justice as safely as possible.
A key focus for several FHSU students was Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
“The advancements needed in fields like STEM and education are being marginalized, making it difficult for communities to speak their truths instead of being helped,” said Genisis Wilson, a student studying Biology at Fort Hays.
Another area of shared concern was immigration policy.
“If illegal immigration is the problem, it’s not a reason to close borders and target specifically Mexican populations, but rather to gather resources and funding to improve the system and process we currently have,” Wilson said.
The goal of the protest was to send a message while maintaining peace—specifically not targeting any particular group or person but protesting against the “Anti-2025 Project.” Preparatory actions involved extensive communication among members who brought this issue to light.
“We are going into this prepared,” said Joanna Sanchez, one of the organizers of the protest.
Many protest participants indicated they had met ahead of time, researched the issue, considered various perspectives, and discussed difficult conversations.
The main outcome protesters sought was to have their voices heard and to ensure that others felt empowered to do the same—whether by joining the protest or simply witnessing people take action.
“Being mindful is very important to us,” said a student who wished to remain anonymous. “We know we are not going to change people’s perspectives completely, but we want to see some kind of shift in gears and have them understand where we’re coming from.”
Additionally, several students had participated in a similar protest held in Salina, which inspired them to take action in Hays.
Some in attendance said they didn’t want to look back and just be a bystander regarding reactions to Project 2025. Another student who wanted to remain anonymous said no one is reacting or angry and is instead encouraging others to stand up for something bigger than themselves.
Sanchez said fear should not prevent change.
“Even in a small town like Hays, Kansas, there is still a lot of passion, and many people are tired and want to make a change,” she said.