The Illinois Migrant Council hosted a 5k event on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Washington Park to promote healthy lifestyles and demonstrate Latino unity, amid an anti-immigrant and anti-Latino political climate fueled by the Trump Administration’s policies.
Esnider Rojas, a Springfield resident for the last nine years and a Colombian native, said his primary exercise is lifting weights, but nevertheless said the run “was good training.”
Some participants dressed in the colors representing the country of their familial roots or national origin.
Patty Mendoza wore a headband, her “little serape” made with the cloth of traditional woven blankets or ponchos originating from Mexico.
She moved to Springfield three years ago. “I’m just trying to fit in with the rest of the Latino and Hispanic community,” Mendoza said.
Groups and individuals from various backgrounds also took part in the 5k.
Fernanda Baptist, the Illinois Migrant Council’s regional coordinator for central Illinois, emphasized the importance of celebrating all forms of diversity and creating a welcoming space for everyone to participate.
“This event is created by Hispanics for Hispanics and the community,” Baptist said.
A community navigator for the Illinois Migrant Council and an avid runner, Nayelli Batres came up with the idea for the event called “Walk, Run, Belong.”
The IMC serves low-income, rural communities including migrant/seasonal farm workers, immigrants and refugees and their families across the state.
The Mexican native said that as an immigrant, it can be difficult to be away from her family and friends and rebuild a support network, but she has found community through sport.
“I think sports and exercise can unite people in a healthy way,” Batres said.
She said “the community is going through a difficult time” as immigration enforcement agents target Latinos and hopes the event strengthens their unity and resilience.
“There are many closed doors to our community, but we want to send the message that they, too, can be a part of (running events),” Batres said. “There is also space for us here.”
The organizers sought to create an environment of belonging. A mix of Latino music genres played at the pavilion, and flags of several Latin American countries were displayed.
Fruit and bottled water, typical fare for an exercise event, were available for participants, but there were also tables for social justice groups along with Latino civic and immigrant rights organizations. Representatives from state service agencies and the Sangamon County Public Health Department were also available.
Signs in Spanish with encouraging words were planted throughout the route. “Que chimba es correr” [How cool is it to run], “Vete por la sombrita” [Take the path with the shade], “Derecho, no la derecha” [Go straight, not to the right].
There were also signs for “Know Your Rights.” Leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, immigrant rights organizations launched “Know your Rights” campaigns to educate immigrants on their constitutional rights in the event they are confronted with a federal immigration agent.
“You have a right to be treated with respect, to not be exploited,” Batres said. “You have the right to be able to participate in an event like this, no matter where you come from, because at the end of the day, you are a person.”
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