CPP community participates in silent protest

Anti-ICE flyers spark un-spoken campaign across campus

By Lena Moreno, September 23, 2025

The campus community has been utilizing posters around campus as an additional form of protest amid the postponement and re-structuring of the Career Fair.   

With reactions of rage, confusion and betrayal as a Latino-serving institution across multiple platforms like, Instagram and TikTok, the campus community decided take matters into their own hands. Custom anti-ICE flyers were created and posted in various locations on campus, including the Music and Theatre department (Bldgs. 24 and 25), behind the Bronco Student Center and residential suites in response to this matter.  

Bright colored flyers are naturally inclined to catch the attention of passers by | Lena Moreno

Containing the same information as the yellow flyers, these blue versions were spotted around campus as well | Lena Moreno

This form of silent protest initiated at the start of the fall semester, following CPP’s public apology on social media on Aug. 25. There have been multiple variations of flyers created since then. 

Though whoever started the flyer postings remains unknown, students are noticing.  

“As the son of immigrants, I am against ICE as an institution because of their unethical protocol,” said Manuel Alvarado, a music performance student. “So, when I saw these posters, I was very receptive to them, and I was for them.” 

From personal artwork to memes shedding light on ICE retaliation, the flyers allow CPP affiliates to protest in a safe and effective manner. It has served as a voice for those who wish to participate but have chosen not to, given current political circumstances.  

Students on Reddit have spotted multiple anti-ICE stickers inspired by the movie Shrek (2001) primarily on light poles around campus. | Lena Moreno

Artist Lalo Alcaraz (@laloalcaraz via Instagram) is an Editorial Cartoonist that creates political comics for CALO News. Two days after the Career Fair was postponed, Alcaraz defended Cal Poly students through his political cartoon-styled art. | Courtesy of Lalo Alcaraz

The meme flyers have particularly been circulating on platforms like Reddit to mock CPP’s response to the issue.  

A CPP student, whose identity wished to stay anonymous, created his own survey containing a QR code for passersby to fill out. It asks survey takers to share their major, racial identity, opinions and involvement with ICE and border patrol (if applicable). It now has 105 signature responses. 

According to the survey creator, the end goal is to send the completed survey to CPP and California State University administrators, Associated Students, Incorporated, supporting activist clubs and the Supreme Court.  

 “I plan to send it to anywhere official that’ll take it seriously or not take it seriously,” said the anonymous source. 

Despite the career fair being pushed to a later date, the postponement’s effectiveness remains unclear, as reflected by social media comments made by students and alumni. Nonetheless, students are standing their ground.  

“It’s like creating a stance that we do support our community, and we support each other,” said Paris Raylene Tuma, an apparel merchandising and marketing student.  “We’re not going to let people get rid of the community that we have here.”  

The U.S. Supreme Court and Trump administration ruled to uphold roving patrols throughout Southern California Sept. 8. According to The Santanero, ICE raids are expected to resume the detaining of individuals in the greater Los Angeles area just through racial profiling alone, even without requiring documentation checks. Most of the student-made flyers incorporate support contacts that address ICE policies which reflect these concerns.  

Feature image courtesy of Lalo Alcaraz