DREAM Act activist, Pedro Ramirez, is now facing deportation because of a vendetta by a right wing Fresno State classmate. Details below from the Change.Org website.
DREAM Activist Targeted For Deportation By Vengeful Classmate
If you're looking for a hero, look no further than 22-year-old Pedro Ramirez, the California State University, Fresno student body president who came out about his undocumented status last year to fight for the DREAM Act.
The Huffington Post named him one of 2010's Top College Role Models. Fresno State's President, John D. Welty, praised Ramirez for his activism. And to many, Ramirez became the public face of the DREAM Act, the proposed bill that would have given undocumented students a path to legal citizenship.
What did these accolades get him? Targeted, bullied and harassed by a fellow student who is now launching a one-man vendetta to get Ramirez deported.
Masquerading as a "citizen's advocate," fellow Fresno State student Neil O'Brien has created a hateful website alleging that Ramirez has been working, driving and politically organizing while illegal.
He details "investigations" he's done of Ramirez's social media accounts and accuses him of secretly working against the U.S. government. He's posted Ramirez's personal e-mail address and tells his website visitors to "E-mail Pedro EXACTLY how feel about him" (sic). He's asking Fresno State alums to hold off donations until Ramirez is gone, and asking Fresno State's President to speak out against Ramirez.
Creepy, no? That's not the worst of it. Posting phone numbers for the FBI and ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement), he's urging others to call ICE and report Ramirez.
That's right: He's trying to get Ramirez deported.
Fresno State's honor code requires that the "academic community adhere to principles of academic integrity and mutual respect while engaged in university work and related activities."
I'm pretty sure creating a stalkerish, bullying website designed to intimidate a fellow student doesn't qualify as "mutual respect." Call on Fresno State to take a stand against racism and intimidation and publicly denounce this student's dirty tactics. Pedro Ramirez is a leader on campus and for DREAMers everywhere. Don't let him be silenced by a personal vendetta.
