{"id":84777,"date":"2025-02-10T08:54:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T14:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=84777"},"modified":"2025-02-10T08:54:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T14:54:14","slug":"hays-community-protests-against-project-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=84777","title":{"rendered":"Hays community protests against Project 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By DANIELA SALINAS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-84778\" data-id=\"84778\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A5015.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A5015-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A5015-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A5015-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A5015-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, 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srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4990-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-84779\" data-id=\"84779\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996.jpg?resize=683%2C1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996-scaled.jpg?resize=173%2C260 173w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C150 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4996-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048 1365w, 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683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?resize=173%2C260 173w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C150 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?w=1707 1707w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4954-scaled.jpg?w=1580 1580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-84783\" data-id=\"84783\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Black Student Union, Social Work Club, and Gender and Sexuality Alliance led the protest with the goal of \u201cbeing the change.\u201d Their shared goal was to raise awareness, be heard, and seek justice as safely as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key focus for several FHSU students was Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe advancements needed in fields like STEM and education are being marginalized, making it difficult for communities to speak their truths instead of being helped,\u201d said Genisis Wilson, a student studying Biology at Fort Hays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another area of shared concern was immigration policy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf illegal immigration is the problem, it\u2019s 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,\u201d Wilson said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of the protest was to send a message while maintaining peace\u2014specifically not targeting any particular group or person but protesting against the \u201cAnti-2025 Project.\u201d Preparatory actions involved extensive communication among members who brought this issue to light.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are going into this prepared,\u201d said Joanna Sanchez, one of the organizers of the protest.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many protest participants indicated they had met ahead of time, researched the issue, considered various perspectives, and discussed difficult conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main outcome protesters sought was to have their voices heard and to ensure that others felt empowered to do the same\u2014whether by joining the protest or simply witnessing people take action.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeing mindful is very important to us,\u201d said a student who wished to remain anonymous. \u201cWe know we are not going to change people\u2019s perspectives completely, but we want to see some kind of shift in gears and have them understand where we\u2019re coming from.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, several students had participated in a similar protest held in Salina, which inspired them to take action in Hays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some in attendance said they didn\u2019t 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sanchez said fear should not prevent change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEven 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":84783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,3398,11,3570],"tags":[15953,16147,16149,16148],"class_list":["post-84777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-campus-news","category-news","category-politics-news","tag-daniela-salinas","tag-peaceful-protest","tag-political-protest","tag-project-2025"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/5H1A4968-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84777"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84786,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84777\/revisions\/84786"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/84783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}