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Hi. My name is James Hernandez. Today is November 25th, 2019. I am here with Layla Bellini, and today she is going to talk to me about the October 10th, 2019 Donald Trump Jr protest that we recently have here at the University of Florida. Lay the hell are you doing this afternoon?

00:00:18.600 - 00:00:40.260

How? I'm doing well, happy to be here, so Yeah. Awesome. So, anything like, I want to start talking about a little bit of the background of, like, how the events evolved to what they were on October 10th. So for you, specifically, how did you get involved with the movement with dream defenders?

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Um, so, yeah, going way back. So the first time I ever heard about dream defenders was really fleeting. I was in high school because Dream Defenders is a statewide organization. So I was in high school, and it was around the time of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.

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And so I'm from that area. Coral Springs out from Pompano Beach called strings, like 10, 15 minutes away from my house. So, like, it kind of hit close to home. But I was in, like, a really intense like a magnet program at my school was really rigorous.

00:01:09.010 - 00:01:23.790

So I didn't, like, have the capacity to, like, be involved with, like, the walkouts or like, any of the planning for that. But my close friend Kirton, who is also a part of dream defenders with me here in Gainesville, was really involved. Like he helped plan, like a big walk out of our school and things like that.

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So yeah. So, Dream defenders I just found out about it, reached out and was like, Hey, like, you know, s Oh, that's like, my first like thing that I heard about dream defenders that my friend was like, Ah, part of it. And then they also went to Washington D C for the on March 4th, 24th.

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I think, for the, like, big like fun. Yeah. March our lives. Um, and so that was really cool. I didn't have the opportunity go, but like, that was like when I saw I was like, Oh, this is like, uninterested organization. So that was my senior senior year of high school.

00:01:54.530 - 00:02:11.970

Maybe. Probably. Yeah. So got to college. Um kind of like, had not forgotten about it, but it was like somewhere in the back of my mind And, like, still good friends with Curtin and like, got closer because I didn't know anyone in like, you know, you cling onto who you know, so that we were planning.

00:02:11.970 - 00:02:32.210

So it was around the time Andrew Gillum was being elected to his last fall of, like, maybe October. Um, yeah, definitely was in November. Definitely was either September or October 2018. We were doing phone banking for Andrew Gillum because we were, like, voting. And then So I helped Curtin, like, plan the phone banking and then the North Regional Organization at the time.

00:02:32.210 - 00:02:43.620

Reach out was like, Hey, like, I like the way you work. And then he was like, Do you wanna get involved in, like, Yeah, I kind of, like, just jumped in head first, join the core team, which is like our I guess you would say e board, but we believe in a horizontal power structure.

00:02:43.620 - 00:02:56.650

So we call them core teams, um, during the court team and have been involved ever since. So that's kind of how it all started. Okay. Awesome. Um, if anything, is it okay if I can talk a little bit about your background. Like how you developed as a black woman in America.

00:02:56.660 - 00:03:13.560

Yeah, Eso I'm actually originally Haitians. I was born and raised in Haiti. I moved to the States when I was six, and I think my experience with, like, politics and just like being aware of things that were happening around me started very young, even if I didn't really understand it.

00:03:13.570 - 00:03:28.270

Because one of the reasons that I did move to this country one of many was like because of, like, political safety. So there was a lot of rebellion, and there still is right now going on in Haiti at the time. And my dad was like a really prominent member of, like, a political party.

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And so for our safety, we moved. We, uh, sought asylum in America on I just remember even having like, um just like, yeah, so we just moved to the States and I remember even having like, like, an escape plan, um, when we like left, like escape plan, like just in case anything ever happened.

00:03:51.860 - 00:04:04.050

And so we moved to the States, and I just remember the first thing I noticed was how different things were in America. I watched the news a lot growing up because I was like one of the ways that I learned English. I would like, listen to them, pronounce things and repeat it.

00:04:04.340 - 00:04:17.430

That was in Louise. I learned how to speak English, so I watched the news a lot. Growing up like it was just a thing like getting already in the morning for school. The news was in the background, so I was always like, listening and hearing. And like I was more quiet as a kid because I didn't speak the language.

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I was. It was a lot of listening for me. So I would hear like the adults talking about things that were going on And, like I remember seeing like Obama getting elected and kind of like like, Oh wow like that, that person that looks like me not completely like wrapping my head around the significance, but like still really being like, Hey, like, I want this, like, even if I didn't really understand, like what I wanted or why it was like, Hey, I wanted it So that was just like, I guess my, um introduction into like political activism or just like seeing the world around me.

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Um, yeah. And so I just, like, developed as I got older and kind of understood more, Um, and, like, knew what was going around. So yeah, and also how you talked about, like when you were, like, young and focusing on the news all the time. So learn and develop your English here, the vents back in 2012 with the Trayvon Martin shooting.

00:05:10.930 - 00:05:31.590

How did you respond to that specifically? How is what? Probably either 12 or 11. At the time, I think I was just, like, kind of stunned because I was, like, the first big, like showcase of, like, police brutality I've ever heard about, like especially like with a black man around my age.

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And I was, like, really confused at the time and like, I think it hurt. But I don't think I was emotionally mature enough toe like Noto like grief properly through that. And so it's even like, now and like as I'm older, that I'm, like, really grieving for, like, things that, like, happened in the past.

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I'm like like, you know, this really hurt. Um, but like, I wasn't really emotionally mature enough at the time, so I kind of go through. But I just remember, like, knowing like, this is wrong. Like like Aiken distinctly remember. Like thinking like this is not okay Like, um, like, hurting with the families and like, hurting with the rest of America.

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But it was, like, in a different way. Um, yeah, I'm like, I just didn't know what to do. I think that's something I realized for myself. Like even young. Like I was never, like, able to just sit like it. Made me restless to just, like, sit and, like, not be able to do anything, Which is why I got involved in, like, social justice, Like, I have to be doing something like, even if, Like, I'm not seeing the long term results knowing that, like, I'm working towards something bigger.

00:06:35.250 - 00:07:05.470

I'm not like just sitting down is, like, really important to me. Okay, Awesome. Yeah. And like with high schools, Well, during the Stoneman Douglas shooting back in 2017, like your response to like the to, like, the mass shootings have been occurring in this country. Like towards, like people of color and people of different minority groups like, what do you view from that perspective of like social justice in itself from that Mhm.

00:07:05.840 - 00:07:21.550

So in response, like the stolen jugglers shooting, I could definitely remember like that that was like that, Honestly, crushed me like I literally went home and cried from school for, like, a week straight. Like it was really devastating. Um, like, yeah, like, honestly, that was really devastate.

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That's, like, actually kind of traumatic. Oh, look back at it. Um, but I just remember thinking like I was like, Yes, wow, this is really bad. And I'm really happy that, like, kind of organizing that sprung out from this, But like and sometimes I kind of like things like as horrible as it is, but like, I have to be kind of pragmatic with myself.

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I remember having a conversation with my friends, and I was like because I went to a school in like, a lower income, Like like I went to school the hood, like I went to school in the lower income, predominantly black area neighborhood and, like the only like not black people in my school were there for the magnet program.

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And even then there was barely any people and not to say like it was a bad school, like it was all right school. But, like, I literally remember having this conversation with one of my best friends, and I was like, Yeah, like, it's great that like No, it's not.

00:08:08.350 - 00:08:22.150

It's horrible that the shooting happening happened. Um, it's great that like after it happened, it didn't just die down like it wasn't just like, oh, like a shooting and then, like, die down. And I'm happy that, like, ah, lot of the organizing and activism that arose from it.

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But I just remember thinking like, Hey, like what if this happened at my school, like 10 minutes away? I think the response would have been completely different. And I'm like, Oh, like that's just the area like, filled with violent and like And I'm like, you know, But it's still people, too.

00:08:35.940 - 00:08:57.710

It's really inhumane and like it's kind of like for me, it was kind of like a double edge sword, like for me. I kind of felt guilty for thinking that, but also realizing like this is my reality, you know, like I guess it was a predominantly white, predominately wealthy area, and I think that has a lot to do with why it got the, um, kind of exposure that it did.

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Not that I'm saying that, like, not that I'm mad or like, feel any type of way. But like if you look at, like, the fax, you know, So I think that's like, just like my view on the whole thing. Yes, And with the election about four years ago, with the inauguration of Donald Trump and him becoming president, what kind of reality do you face as a nation now, even way before his inauguration, in him being elected with the racial divisions of we've been noticing throughout the past 78 years?

00:09:31.070 - 00:09:51.430

Now, how do you feel like we are today in this current state of mine At the time that, like Donald Trump was getting elected, I don't think that, like, I think I knew that racism like I knew. I definitely knew that racism was really like I knew it was a concept, but personally, like if I had ever experienced it, I didn't really know.

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Maybe it was like a micro Russian or something like that. But I was. I grew up around black people like I was surrounded by black people. And so, like I was surrounded by, like, blatant expressions of racism. If I saw it was in the media and it was like kind of like it was disassociated for me like I didn't have to, like, really think about it.

00:10:06.630 - 00:10:24.860

But like whence like when it was a time of Donald Trump getting elected and like, I would see all of the things that were coming out with, like him being like, misogynistic and like, blatantly racist and hearing about, like his involvement with, like, the central, the Central Central Park five and like, hit the whole media coverage with that.

00:10:24.840 - 00:10:44.460

I think that, like I was in denial, I was like, There's no way that this man is getting elective and keep in mind like I personally don't like Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton is a neo liberal and like, did shitty things to Haiti around like that, um, around the earthquake and like, But I was like, Hey, it's the lesser of two evils and it's it's like, really sad that that's why we have to resort to in this country.

00:10:44.740 - 00:11:02.020

But I think I was in disbelief. I was like, Yeah, there's no way like this thing. Man is a clown, like he's not gonna get elected. And so the next, like, literally the next. Like I went to sleep so late, Like watching the polls. And I was, like, literally, so in disbelief because, like, it was to the point where it was like a margin of a percent.

00:11:02.020 - 00:11:21.110

And I was like like, Hey, like you never know how the tables could turn to think I had, like, deep down kind of accepted the fact but was still hopeful that like, hopefully something will change until the next one. And I just went to sleep around like maybe one am because, you know, like they're still kind of It's basically announced by then.

00:11:21.120 - 00:11:34.970

But they're still counting like the list, little less because I remember that at that election, it kind of like drug out longer, like usually by like 12 11. We know who the president is, but like that was like drunk like, kind of dragged, dragged out longer than normal.

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So I remember waking up the next morning like, literally, like, just shocked, and I was kind of just like numb. I was like, This doesn't affect me at like this is horrible, but like I got to go to school like I got bigger problems to worry about.

00:11:49.920 - 00:12:03.000

Like I got to go to class. I wasn't doing room, and at the time I was involved in school heavily. So, like I couldn't afford to focus on that. Like I just like I had a folk, I had to move on. And that's just how it has to be.

00:12:03.000 - 00:12:34.180

Sometimes like it sucks. But you just gotta pick yourself up by your bootstraps and move on. Yeah, And during his current administration, the policies that he initiated against Minority who have certain immigrants like restricting Muslims toe entering this country and especially like shut, not disassociating the blame of the law enforcement of all the rights that happened, like with Charlottesville and putting the blame on both sides.

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How do you feel that his administration is doing with race relations and the minority relations in this country? I mean, I think it's doing his job like like let's be real. The Trump administration was never here to, like help people like you or me, like the Trump administration.

00:12:52.190 - 00:13:12.140

Personally, I believe, like is on the agenda of white supremacy like as as a veiled as they're trying to do it as much as maybe, like Donald Trump won't wanted to admit to himself like, Let's look at the facts. You know, I think it's thinly veiled fascism, and I think that it's doing its job and it's succeeding.

00:13:12.140 - 00:13:32.860

But like if I have anything to say about it, it's like thousands and millions of organizing around America have anything to say about it, like they won't succeed like we've had some losses. But am I surprised? No. Like I've gone to a point where I'm just like, oh like, like, kind of numb to it, which is pretty unhealthy.

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But like like even when I heard about, like, the murder of like both M. Jean and like our Tianna Jefferson, I was sad. It was like literally Sodom, probably Twitter, because I'm always on Twitter. I was like, Oh, wow, this is really sad. Keep scrolling and it's like I don't know.

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It's really sad that, like this is how it's become. But I think I'm just kind of like, desensitized to it all. Like Okay, like what's next, like literally on the edge of my seat waiting for like, What the fuck is this man about to do next?

00:14:04.350 - 00:14:29.980

Oh, sorry. This is Well, there's no safe space, but this is a conversation. So you can say whatever the hell you want. Whatever the fuck I want. I was fine. Okay, But let's go to present J 2019 October with like when you read the independent alligator saying that Donald Trump Jr is gonna be coming here to hold an event for his book campaign.

00:14:29.990 - 00:14:45.190

How did you respond to that? Well, the first thing the first place I saw it was on Twitter. I think one of my friends, Sweden, was like, y'all heard Donald Trump coming. Come here. I'm like, What the hell are they talking about? Scroll down, scroll down.

00:14:45.200 - 00:15:01.430

And then so I follow a lot of like the u F Twitter pages because I was e just follow a lot of like, the U S. Twitter pages. And, uh, I like solid the accent thing. And I'm like Donald Trump First, I read Donald Trump. Don't even see the junior park.

00:15:01.430 - 00:15:19.230

So I'm like Donald Trump like don't people president coming here. I was like, Oh, hell, no eso I was like God, this has to be a prank like maybe it's April Fool's in October. Um, I was like, What in the world actually think it was in September when they announced because it's the end of September?

00:15:19.240 - 00:15:33.680

I was like, What in the world? So at first I was like, y'all just like missing. So then I realized it was really I'm like, Oh, no, the first thing I'm like, the first thing I think one of the first like thoughts that I remember having was like shits about to go down.

00:15:33.690 - 00:15:49.970

I'm like, I would like to be a part of the shit that's about to go down because, you know, I'm ready. So I was, like, so, like, the same day I heard about it, I think was literally the Thursday cause. It happened on Thursday, I think Thursday before it was announced, same day I heard about it.

00:15:50.440 - 00:16:03.560

Um, was it Thursday cause I remember we had a class on. I'm like, Did we have class the day before it happened? Because I know I think it might have been before Thursday. I think it might have been like a Tuesday that I heard about it.

00:16:03.940 - 00:16:18.570

Yeah, I'm checking the calendar right now, so give me about one minute. Yeah, I think it might have been a choose. Yes, it was a Tuesday because I remember it was that Wednesday. Okay. Was it like, on the first or the second that they announced it?

00:16:18.570 - 00:16:36.790

Because I think I have no idea, but whatever. I just remember either the day or the day before they announced it. We had class that day, the day or the day after, because I am talking about in class and I was in class, like, literally fuming like I was like, sitting down like I was surprised I wasn't shaking like I was just I don't know, it was just so much anger.

00:16:36.790 - 00:16:51.500

I was like, You'll have the audacity to do this like you already had a Richard Spencer. You already have the racist graduation incident. Like, just think about the thing with this school, and I'm like, I don't know, just sick of it. Eso like my first reaction was like, my first real reaction.

00:16:51.500 - 00:17:15.260

Like after I realized that I was really like, what the actual fuck? Like, I was really upset. Um, like, annoyed. I'm like I'm like, Okay, what are we gonna do to stop this? And I think that, like being realistic in the back of my mind, I was like, knowing you f it's still gonna happen like, but, you know, what can I do to, like, show that, like, this is not okay?

00:17:15.260 - 00:17:30.340

Like the students don't want this. So, being like the dream defenders, I kind of like no people organizer's throughout like you have. Not much, but I have, like, connects. And I heard of, like, a meeting happening that same night. I wasn't able to go to that first initial meeting because I had, like, already planned.

00:17:30.340 - 00:17:52.460

I had already planned to go toe had made plans to go to family homecoming. At that point, I was like considering canceling the plans. But I was like my birthday had been like to experience. I was like, honestly, like, I cannot let this stop my life like I'm gonna go and I'm gonna have fun, which I did, but it was really like the moment I stepped foot in Gainesville, City limits, like shit went down again because it was like that weekend before it happened.

00:17:52.540 - 00:18:06.770

It was like the moment I stepped right in back in Gainesville cinemas after that weekend. It was like things were crazy. So I actually wasn't originally part of the first planning Committee. But from what I heard, it was like a group of big people. Um, it was a lot of talking and things like that.

00:18:06.770 - 00:18:24.320

And then the committee just kinda got, like, smaller and smaller, Not for any particular reason, but, like, it's hard to organize something with, like, 20 plus people. So you actually jumped in as, like, support people. I was like, Hey, like, I don't have the capacity to be here right now, especially in the weekend, like you all need people on the ground.

00:18:24.320 - 00:18:41.960

So I'm not gonna put myself in a position or, like, say, I could do something when I know that like, it's not gonna be the most helpful. But I'm here to support, like, whatever I can do remotely in, um, Tallahassee. While I was there, like I'll do so I gave myself the offer, but came back.

00:18:42.340 - 00:18:57.070

Things were still being in the works, like attended, like a meeting gave my input on, like something. So there was like a press release given out and like, a letter drop off. And I helped that. I was at the press release. I went to the letter drop off.

00:18:57.240 - 00:19:24.180

Oh, my gosh. We interrogated President Fox? Yeah. Was it the letter drop off and things like that went to a couple more meetings and then we kind of had like, and I don't know how much of this can legally go on the record, so I'll just say that now, but we kind of, um we had, like, a whole plan of like and not me, because I'm not gonna take credit for the plan that I create, but I helped, like, execute it.

00:19:24.540 - 00:19:46.550

But there was the whole plan, like there's gonna be a protest outside. There's gonna be people on the inside, like making disruptions and me knowing this is illegal. So we have a whole plans. We have, like, arrest forms, and I'm like, I'm actually like un arrestable, like I can't go to jail, but I'm gonna do this anyway, I was like, if I honestly, I like if I go to jail, just killed because my mom, that's what my mom was gonna do when I get out of jail.

00:19:46.740 - 00:20:03.420

But like we really like, wrote our names down like I wrote. Like I wrote down like Like I had, like, three numbers I could call, like I wrote them down in Sharpie on my knee, on my wrist and like, we went inside and like, Yeah, we just like it was just like civil disobedience, like disrupting like yelling.

00:20:03.430 - 00:20:41.780

And it was, like, really annoying because, like, freaking, I don't know her name like the little girl. That was what? There. I don't mean the girlfriend, Whatever. Like this. This girl is screaming into the mike. I'm like, Okay, you're doing the most now and so like And it was literally, like, really evident that it was just like a campaign stop like, This is the so called books, or but like two words are mentioned about your so called book, and they only have to do with the title of the book, and the rest of them is like, Oh, like as you can see that, like people are upset with, like my father's rhetoric and blah blah, blah blah, which is like, honestly, should be grounds to sue.

00:20:41.740 - 00:21:02.910

And honestly, if I had the capacity, I probably would have tried to sue those assholes. But, like I don't have the time or capacity toe worry about things like that because, like even after like that, have been being surrounded by people who I know that like, And it's just hard because, like guys, a person I don't want I don't believe that people are inherently evil by nature.

00:21:02.910 - 00:21:25.270

So I don't think that these people are inherently evil. But I think it's just so like, ridiculous how they have the privilege to ignore, like, what? This presidency like, what this upcoming election like means to so many people because it doesn't affect them. And so, being in a room with people who are, like, so blissfully ignorant and like, I don't have the luxury of being that ignorant.

00:21:25.280 - 00:21:43.780

It was really frustrating, and I was sitting next to my friend and like when we let related later to talk about it, I was like that was like pretty like traumatic, like being in that room like it, literally like, What's the point? Where, like when the whole turning point thing happened, I was like, Even if there's organizing happening against it, like for my mental health I can't be a part of it.

00:21:44.140 - 00:22:02.430

Like I can only give so much. And so, like, I just remember, like, even like leaving the even, leaving the protest like walking outside like we spent, like we were outside, like, you remember, we're outside for a good hour, Like screaming. I had a migraine walking up down the street and I was like, like yelling.

00:22:02.430 - 00:22:18.600

I was like, there's police surrounding us. Oh, not to mention, it was actually terrified before we went inside before the talk happened. Like we looked up and there's, like, snipers on the roof. That is correct. And I'm like, Wow, shock. Not so much scared. Very still.

00:22:18.600 - 00:22:40.780

Gonna do something? Of course. Um, yeah, I don't know. And it was like there were snipers. And this is just, like, continuous. Like why? I don't believe that police are here to protect us like and my question to you is when the University of Florida Police Department was here, Gainesville police and the Secret Service were there.

00:22:41.340 - 00:23:01.720

Did you like as the answer, like you felt like the police didn't protect us. Do you think that the U. F. P. D were there to protect us or just should arrest us if we did anything stupid. Oh, definitely here to arrest us if we did anything stupid, like, Oh, listen, u f e d I don't know much about them, but number one I don't even know if they could do their jobs.

00:23:01.720 - 00:23:27.110

Because all these, um, alerts I'd be getting that's all. Like, I don't never see you all on campus late at night. I'm driving. I'll see. No, no copyrights. First of all, you'll need if you all are here to protect and serve, then do your job because my tuition or I don't know who pays for UFDD, But I know some of my tuition probably going to that on and then I'm like, y'all are here, like and I guess I'm kind of thankful for the fact that they didn't interfere.

00:23:27.110 - 00:23:44.970

They kind of just like, let us do what we did. We had to do and like, left us alone. But like, I think if anything really went down like they were never gonna they were never gonna help us. That's why we had a rest harms, like like especially like if it was a black or brown person.

00:23:44.980 - 00:24:06.800

Listen, you might as well have just sound, but sentenced them right there because there was going to jail. But yeah, I don't know, definitely was not there. I did not feel safe, like with the presence of police there at all. So the people that organized that, let's say, with the accent chair Henry Fair.

00:24:06.800 - 00:24:29.040

How did you think of him bringing this person to campus? When Hugh he knows he's like the most polarized? Him and his father are the most polarizing figures in this country At this moment. Um, I think my first initial reaction is always, like jump to the gun like, Why did you do this like and then?

00:24:29.040 - 00:24:47.160

Like I read and learn and things like that. And why doesn't it? Doesn't forgive. I don't forgive Henry Fair like, Well, there's nothing to forgive. I personally don't give a shit about Henry Fair like, let's be really like I don't kind of e don't have energy to care, like about Henry Fair or anything about him.

00:24:47.170 - 00:25:01.470

So let's not even say the word forgive. Well, I'll say, like I think what he still did was wrong. But like after hearing things about how, like, honestly was like Michael Murphy himself sign on it and just kind of pushed about it. I think that he's a coward.

00:25:01.540 - 00:25:11.970

Like, let's be really? Because I know if I was in that actually hear from the position, I wouldn't leave that shit. I would've been like, Listen, they're trying to get Donald Trump in here, like, let me not say this. They never will hire me for no as you positions.

00:25:11.980 - 00:25:41.650

I'm never gonna get hired for idiots your position. But, you know, I really care. Um, but yeah, but I got a shot goes in life here. I'm trying to go to law school, relax, but yeah, I don't know. I just personally just, like, think that they're just horrible, but, like, I just can't even like I, like support the whole impeachment Mercury thing like initially, I was going to be a part of it, But like I said, like, I kind of wanted to step back from that.

00:25:41.650 - 00:25:54.570

And I just wanted to work on more like dream defenders, like local organizing and, like, kind of what we have going on, Um, because I can only stretch myself so thin, so I kind of took a step back from that. Um, but yeah. I mean, I'm down for the cause.

00:25:54.570 - 00:26:14.490

Listen, I'm a whole, like eat the rich, like, burned down all the systems that oppress us like I'm radical. A f So, like I'm about it. Um, but could I be a part of it? Not at this time. And I think it was a smart decision for myself just because, Like, how the rest of semester end up going.

00:26:15.040 - 00:26:37.860

So yeah, like I don't really like, I think I have, like, that's going just indifferent to it. Yeah. And do you think with the future SG administrations for the coming years Do you think that a P w wild such as the University of Florida and any other universities in the country will change your standards of white privilege that they have here?

00:26:41.540 - 00:27:05.550

I think they can, but I don't know. It's hard, like, I often have to remind myself that like there were people who probably never thought slave route, and there were people who never thought like black people would ever get their voting rights. So, like, it's hard thinking, like looking at the U F that I see now, like I'm like cannot really happen, I don't know, but like bigger things have happened, you know?

00:27:06.040 - 00:27:23.090

So it's just about, like continuing doing the work, but like, this is exhausting work. You just have to acknowledge that link. Give yourself space to realize that and give yourself space toe like, be doubtful sometimes, like it's just all part of the process. Like I'm really hopeful, out of work.

00:27:23.090 - 00:27:42.560

And like, I well, I'm definitely willing to be part of that, like continuation so that, like, students that come here in 45 years can like experience a better. Um, like, I just think about like the students who organized for like, I'd be seeing, like, casita and like now I have, like, have access to these buildings, which is actually, we're probably gonna go after this.

00:27:42.570 - 00:28:02.990

Um, now that I have access like these, these buildings and while not perfect, like someone did it before me like and I'm really grateful for that. So, like I'm willing to, like, help make it better u f for like black and brown students who come here in the future, if there are any because that like that, like Ray is, Lauren is lowering down and you have swear they got 6% black people who go here.

00:28:02.990 - 00:28:21.960

But that's not even residential residential. They got about 44% black people. I go here? Yeah, and specifically with, like I said on the ABC Institute with them recently turning down the original houses from, like about 2 to 3 years ago. Did you think it was the right call for them to do that?

00:28:21.970 - 00:28:36.710

Well, I wasn't here at the time, so like I'm a sophomore side. When I got here, there was no IBC. Like I said that, like, I seem like I see that, like, literally the first time I probably heard about them was the groundbreaking. And I went like I learned a little bit about so I honestly wasn't here.

00:28:36.710 - 00:28:53.040

I don't know enough to like, say, I don't know. I feel like it definitely could have been prevented. Like what? The history I know. I think that, like, is something that they could have been. They could have something that could have been prevented by, like doing maintenance, like regular maintenance instead of just kind of like leaving it to get that bad.

00:28:53.050 - 00:29:05.160

But I will say that like, if it was still a point where I was I'm safe, like I can't say, Hey, like, I think that it was a space that should have been used. I think they had ulterior motive. Like, I think they were just gonna shut it down.

00:29:05.160 - 00:29:18.050

And, like, if no one said anything, kind of, like, not really put anything back or, like, put something that wasn't what we asked for in its place. But, like, thank God for the students that, like, are like, No, Like, I want to take a stand for this.

00:29:18.340 - 00:29:36.480

We're here to ensure that, like, the integrity and not all of it, Because, you know, you if is always gonna like Neil liberal the fuck out of everything. Whatever. Um, but that's not even a word, but yeah, not all the integrity, but, like, you know, it's still here.

00:29:36.490 - 00:30:02.160

It's still something. It's still a really dope space, so I'm thankful for what I have. Um, yeah. Uh, we'll do one more question. I'll just think of this one on off the top of my head. Sure. Okay. Like, is there any advice for, like, future student of color minority that you would give for their experience.

00:30:02.170 - 00:30:29.960

E. It's probably fun is really any advice that you would give to any student minority or color of like how to live the the true U F experience. I mean, is there really a trio of experience? Um, I don't know. I'm still learning myself. I think one thing that I didn't realize that I I'm kind of still experiences like I didn't think that I was selling it.

00:30:29.960 - 00:30:45.380

Like, I think I realized recently, like as in, like last week, that I've been going through a lot of imposter syndrome like being here and like mentally like I know. But you know, it's still like when you're surrounded by something daily and like you here, it's kind of hard to break out of.

00:30:45.380 - 00:31:15.960

So I think just like finding your niche of people like whoever that may be. And like I have a bunch of different issues like my friends uh, my l D I family, um, Black Student Union, just like the black community on campus dream defenders. And like other organizations that like e like just find a niche like find your people, find your support system like it's hard, but like I honestly don't think anyone should go about it alone.

00:31:16.540 - 00:31:39.110

Um, because it gets really lonely. Um, my advice is like Do what makes you feel comfortable. I think there's just like rhetoric of like like the black struggle, that everyone has to be an organizer, and everyone has to, like, be in the frontline. You have to be every protest and every march and you need to stay book and know everything about black history.

00:31:39.120 - 00:32:20.100

And that's not true. Like I'm Haitian like, Ah, lot of American history, like Realistically isn't my history. And but I still wanna learn it like I still like sympathize with the black struggle. But like I've had to do a lot of learning. I think I had to do a lot of realization myself that, like, meet people where they're at and like, give people grace and the fact that, like we're still learning like we're at a higher learning institution, we're gonna learn and not like not every part of the movement is for everyone, like there's different aspects and there's different like ground people, and it's like people show up in the way that they can and like the way they feel comfortable in like, don't feel like, you know, that you have to be at the forefront or like, at every meeting, like support others support yourself.

00:32:20.110 - 00:32:38.660

And, like, I was like, most of the advice that I can give you. Um, yeah, like Okay, Leila, thank you so much for talking me todo You have experienced that Donald Trump Jr protests and like, your active involvement with the dream defenders. Thank you so much.

00:32:38.660 - 00:32:41.570

Again. Yeah, that's cool, E.