Members of Shippensburg University’s Latino Student Organization marched through the quad Friday, waving signs and chanting to draw attention to a discriminatory Arizona law that targets Hispanic immigrants.

“¡La Pa’Lante!” one yelled, waiting for the translation to follow — “Moving forward!”

The eighth annual march is meant to gain support for repealing Arizona’s ID laws that require immigrants to show their ID to law enforcement to prove they are here legally, said Jahanny Pean, an SU junior and vice president of the club. In practice, the law lets officers target people based on their skin tone and if they do not have their ID on them they go to jail, she said.

“It’s racial profiling,” said sophomore Ana Lopez-Martinez, who explained the importance of the club. “We don’t have the representation we deserve. We have a community here.”

Dozens of students walked together from Gilbert Hall down through the quad, chanting cadences. Their shouts echoed off the sides of buildings and could be heard throughout campus.

SU’s Latino students often have their identity hidden among the university’s large white presence, junior Varquidia Rosario said.

“We’re overshadowed,” Rosario said. “I love my culture and all the traditions and I want to keep that alive.”

The members said they hold events throughout the year, such as conferences and socials, to share their culture. The march is a way to make their presence known, but also to remind people of the discrimination that goes on. Not everyone that is discriminated against can speak up, making the opportunity to speak up for them important, said sophomore Brianna Hinkle.

Hinkle, a native of Puerto Rico, said the Latino community stands together as one people, despite the numerous places from which they come. Junior Yamaira Lutzinger said she is African-American, Caucasian and Latino, and likes to participate in Latino events to represent that part of her heritage.

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