Around 100 people gathered at the Trousdale North Entrance midday Thursday for the “Defend Our Community” protest organized by USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation and USC Students for Justice in Palestine — both advocacy groups not affiliated with the University — among other organizations. During the protest, Department of Public Safety officials closed the Trousdale North Entrance.

A media liaison representing SCALE, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from the University, said the protest was to fight for a people’s university that served the community and its undocumented members. 

“The University has not taken a proactive stance to protect our undocumented students and [they] said that they will fully comply with [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” the liaison said. “We’re here to counter that climate of fear, and we’re here to fight for a people’s university that serves the people of South Central [Los Angeles], by the people of South Central [L.A.], and for all undocumented students.”

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An unidentified speaker from SCALE listed the protesters’ demands in front of the Trousdale North Entrance, calling for USC to ban ICE from campus, make a public statement in support of undocumented students, create resources to protect undocumented students and inform students when ICE is on campus.

In a later interview, the liaison said SCALE is a part of a “rapid response network” that will defend community members if there is ICE presence near campus. The liaison did not provide specific details on the network, citing confidentiality.

Protesters marched along West Jefferson Boulevard through USC Village and ended at the Trousdale North Entrance. While marching, protesters chanted, “Money for jobs and education, not for ICE and deportation,” and “No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA.”

One speaker from SJP said the University gets its power from profit, while students get it from the people. 

“Our power comes from the commitment to each other, our commitment to our shared struggle against the fascists [that] displaced and dehumanize our neighbors and comrades,” the speaker said.  

Upon the march’s conclusion, protesters approached the closed Trousdale North Entrance, chanting “The people united will never be defeated” at DPS officers, and rattled the locked gates. 

The liaison said DPS and the University have the resources to protect students, but instead have tried to “intimidate” student organizations into not protesting.

“Instead of protecting students, they’d rather surveil us. They’d rather repress us. They’d rather intimidate us,” the liaison said. “It’s about the defense of our students, and they’re scared of that.”

Adam Young contributed to this report.