Xitlaly Estrada is a first-generation college student who is working to empower communities to access and fight for their rights.
Credit: Xitlaly Estrada (left)
By Stephanie Presch, Content Specialist, UnidosUS
On May 21, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the University of Notre Dame’s commencement. Two days before, UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía addressed a group of graduating Latino seniors at a special recognition ceremony. One of the students who invited Murguía is former UnidosUS intern Xitlaly Estrada.
She and other graduating Latino seniors were deeply concerned about the selection the vice president for commencement speaker, given the policies embraced and enacted by the Trump administration. They would go on to form a group called We StaND For that led a walkout during Pence’s speech.
“It was particularly hurtful to Latino students on campus, but also to other marginalized groups that their large commencement would have this individual that has said so many ostracizing and also denigrating comments about multiple marginalized communities. So, we wanted to bring someone to our recognition ceremony that represented the values that we think the Latino community embodies,” she says.
LISTEN: Xitlaly talks about why they reached out to Janet Murguía and UnidosUS
Thank you @NotreDame #Latino graduates for such a warm welcome tonight. And congratulations to you and yours on this special day.
— Janet Murguía (@JMurguia_Unidos) May 20, 2017
