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Rally in support of Tope Awe

31Mar08

April 1, 2008, 3pm UPDATE: From the Facebook group:

Dean Roberts of the School of Pharmacy sent the following message!

“I just received official word through Senator Kohl’s office that Tope AND her brother are being released from custody as we speak. The overall resolution remains temporary in nature, pending additional legal steps, but this is just what we were hoping to accomplish in the short run to allow Tope to return to school for this semester and, hopefully, beyond.”

“Thanks to all for your wisdom, legal guidance, and plain old positive energy and hard work. It all made a difference.”

Background info from the Badger Herald:

A University of Wisconsin graduate student was arrested late last week and risks deportation to Nigeria, her family said this weekend.

Tope Awe, a third-year graduate student in the UW School of Pharmacy, and her family were summoned to the U.S. Homeland Security office in Milwaukee Thursday. When Awe and her brother Gbenga Awe — a recent UW-Stevens Point graduate — arrived, both were unexpectedly arrested, her father Sam Awe told The Badger Herald.

A Facebook group has been created, as well as a survey and petition for collecting comments in support of Tope.

17 photos from today’s rally and march in support of Tope Awe follow:

Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students sign a petition in support of Tope Awe, a pharmacy student currently threatened with deportation. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students sign a petition in support of Tope Awe, a pharmacy student currently threatened with deportation. Mar. 31, 2008 - Elizabeth Wrigley-Field addresses students gathered in Memorial Union in Madison, WI in support of Tope Awe, a pharmacy student who is currently in federal custody and facing deportation.

Mar. 31, 2008 - UW Madison students make signs at Memorial Union in support of fellow student Tope Awe, who is currently in federal custody and facing deportation. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students speak in Memorial Union amidst signs opposing the potential deportation of fellow student Tope Awe. Mar. 31, 2008 - Supporters of Tope Awe speak at Memorial Union in Madison, WI in opposition to her potential deportation.

Mar. 31, 2008 - A UW-Madison student makes a sign in support of Tope Awe, a pharmacy student in danger of being deported. Mar. 31, 2008 - A UW Madison student signs a petition in support of freeing Tope Awe, who is currently in federal custody and in danger of being deported. Mar. 31, 2008 - A UW-Madison student speaks in support of Tope Awe, a student currently facing deportation.

Mar. 31, 2008 - Ralliers opposing the potential deportation of fellow UW-Madison student Tope Awe march out of Memorial Union. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students march down State Street in support of fellow student Tope Awe, who is currently facing deportation. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students march down State Street in support of fellow student Tope Awe, who is currently facing deportation.

Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students march down State Street in support of fellow student Tope Awe, who is currently facing deportation. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students march through the State Capitol in support of Tope Awe, a student currently in federal custody and in danger of being deported. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students march out of the State Capitol in support of Tope Awe, a student currently in federal custody and in danger of being deported.

Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students gather outside of Rep. Tammy Baldwin's office her seeking support for Tope Awe, a student currently in federal custody and in danger of being deported. Mar. 31, 2008 - UW-Madison students gather outside of Rep. Tammy Baldwin's office her seeking support for Tope Awe, a student currently in federal custody and in danger of being deported.

Filed under Madison, higher education, photography and protests/demonstrations.  |

1 Response to “Rally in support of Tope Awe”

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  1. 1 Alex Posted April 1st, 2008 - 2:22 am

    Tough situation, hope it works out

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