A funeral procession of DREAM Act supporters dressed in black will make its way from the Vanderbilt University campus to Senator Bob Corker’s Nashville office on Wednesday.
The “Dreamers” will place a coffin laden with high school diplomas, awards and graduation photos "representing the dreams of higher education of thousands of undocumented youth raised in Tennessee and millions of students all across the United States. The aim of the procession is to highlight the reality of these hard-working youth and to gain Senator Corker's support for passing the DREAM Act this year."
Carlos Tirres, volunteer with the Nashville DREAM Act Committee, said,
“We come together to mourn and remember the dreams and aspirations of many Dreamers. We also want to celebrate the many times Dreamers were recognized for their hard work and relentless desire to succeed. In this coffin here today are many of these accomplishments in the form of awards, certificates, and diplomas. They are a testament to good moral character, outstanding academic achievement, and service to community.”
A "College in a Coffin" event was held in Memphis on Sunday. These funeral events "are part of a major, nationwide movement that has been capturing attention around the country. With a small window of opportunity to pass the DREAM Act, supporters are calling for Congress to not wait any longer and to show leadership on this issue," the group said.
“We feel as American as apple pie, we pledge our allegiance to the United States of America, and we want the opportunity to give back to America. Our hopes and prayers are that the Honorable Senator Bob Corker will support the DREAM Act to resurrect these dreams that lie dead before you in this coffin,” said one of the students who helped organize the event as a member of the Nashville DREAM Act Committee.
The DREAM Act is a piece of proposed federal legislation that was introduced in Congress on March 26, 2009. The bill would provide certain qualified undocumented immigrant students the opportunity to earn residency by attending college or serving in the military. The bill has continued to gain support and a recent national poll by First Focus showed that 69% of Southerners favor passage of the DREAM Act.