Hundreds Rally in Charlotte in Support of DACA Protections

CHARLOTTE, NC – People in Charlotte and across the nation are denouncing President Trump’s decision to end DACA – or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program.

Hundreds gathered in Marshall Park to protest the decision.

“I have my whole life set up here. And I thought my future was set up here,” explains Mario Garcia.

19-year-old Garcia has spent most of his life in Charlotte. He graduated from South Meck High School.

His parents brought him here from Mexico when he was a child. He signed up for DACA and is protected until 2019.

After that — he’s not sure.

“Then what, you know? What can I do?” he asks.

Garcia says he just enrolled in college after spending the past year saving up enough money.

“There are so many of us who have invested so much time and money into our schools because we want to thrive and our families not to worry,” he says.

Garcia is one of hundreds who gathered in Marshall Park Tuesday night to listen and share their stories.

Organizers with Comunidad Colectiva say they want DACA recipients to tell others why they matter and why they should stay.

“I’ve just been here all my life. I don’t know nothing from Mexico,” explains Oscar Salazar.

Salazar, who attends Monroe High School, just turned 15. “There’s a lot of Hispanics out there trying to work hard everyday. Trying to go to school,” he says.

Salazar planned to sign up for DACA — but now it’s too late. Like others, he’s hoping Congress can find a way to save DACA in the next six months.

“We’ll show that we’re one nation. All of us together and I hope stuff gets better,” he says.

And those like Garcia say, for now, they refuse to give up.

“I’m not giving up my hopes to do continue this. And I’m going to finish my school. Invest in that and hopefully something good happens for us,” he says.