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Thousands protest after Tufts grad student arrested by ICE, transferred out of state
Rumeysa Ozturk, originally from Turkey with a student visa, was transferred to Louisiana despite a court order to keep her in the state.
Thousands rallied in Somerville Wednesday after a Tufts University graduate student, native to Turkey and outspoken about Palestinian rights, was arrested by federal immigration agents Tuesday night.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Fulbright Scholar pursuing her PhD at the university’s Child Study and Human Development department, was detained by ICE agents outside an off-campus apartment building in Somerville. Her lawyer said she was “maintaining valid F-1 status” while at Tufts.
At the protest near Tufts, representatives for Ozturk confirmed that she was moved to Louisiana despite a writ of habeas corpus, requesting that Ozturk not be moved out of state. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani had ordered Ozturk not be moved without prior notice, but her lawyer said they weren’t notified of her whereabouts.
“Why she was transferred to Louisiana despite the court’s order is unfathomable. Rumeysa should immediately be brought back to Massachusetts, released, and allowed to return to complete her PhD program,” according to a statement from her lawyer read at Powder House Square Park.
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At the demonstration, Lea Kayali represented the Palestinian Youth Movement, who organized the protest in Somerville with local Palestinian advocacy groups like the Muslim Justice League. Ozturk was leaving her home to break her Ramadan fast when she was confronted by ICE agents.
“Elizabeth Warren is not going to save you. The Democratic Party is not going to save you,” Kayali shouted to the huge crowd. “They did not save Rumeysa. She is detained. They did not save hundreds of thousands of my people murdered by U.S. bombs. This whole damn system has to go.”
In a Tufts Daily op-ed, Ozturk, and other “Graduate Students for Palestine” criticized how university officials responded to resolutions passed by the Tufts Community Union Senate.
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“She was abducted by armed agents of the state because she dared take a stand against genocide,” Kayali said, “and even though she may not consider herself an activist, she has more courage in the hand she wrote that article with than all of Trump’s cronies combined.”
Speakers at the demonstration also included a labor leader and Tufts undergraduate leaders, who remained anonymous with a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, wrapped around their faces. Many voiced their frustration with elected leaders and called on community members to continue to do more for Palestinian liberation.
Organizers warned attendees to not speak to police, ICE, or press. They also promoted a grassroots Luce Defense Hotline to report ICE activity in the state.
Fatema Ahmad, the executive director of the MJL, asked attendees reflect how they can continue to support the pro-Palestinian movement and directly referenced ICE arresting more than 370 people in Greater Boston last week.
Trump officials said that of the 370 people, some were “criminals,” while some were “collateral.”
“Where were you when your neighbors, 370 people, were taken last week by DHS, by ICE?” Ahmad said. “Because truly, I don’t need you to come to any more rallies. I need you to know your neighbors.”
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Ahmad continued her point, emphasizing community building instead of repeated rallies.
“There is no more time for these rallies and these marches where you say these things and you go home and you wait for another social media post to tell you to come here,” Ahmad said. “You have to get organized.”
ICE did not return a request from Boston.com for comment as of Wednesday evening.
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