The College Fix

Roughly 30 college students joined more than 250 protesters in Sacramento to take a stand against the imprisonment of U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi in a Mexican prison.

The college students stood alongside Tea Party members, veterans, and other concerned Californians as Gov. Jerry Brown and other legislators attended a luncheon on Tuesday that honored Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

Sgt. Tahmooressi has been held in a Mexican prison since March, after he accidentally crossed over the border with three of his guns that he legally owns in the United States.

However, differing gun laws in Mexico allowed Mexican officials to imprison him on gun charges, and authorities there have not budged despite fervent calls to release him.

College students waived signs that read “We Love Our Veterans” and “Governor Grow a Spine” alongside the hundreds of others at the rally.

The crowd stood in front of the governor’s mansion for almost three and a half hours while chanting the slogan “Free Our Marine” until the luncheon was over.

“I think this is important because he is an American hero, and deserves to be treated like one,” said Michael Ratto, a communications major at Sacramento State, in an interview with The College Fix. “He risked his life for our country, and people today don’t seem to care nearly as much as they should for the soldiers on the front line. If we don’t stand up for him, who will?”

College Republicans from across the region had encouraged each other to attend the rally through social media.

Another student in attendance, Sacramento State student Seth Wilson, said that the protest was essential because it showed “many patriotic Americans standing up for a member of our military when he needs us the most.”

Republican State Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who organized the protest, wrote a letter to the governor to respectfully decline Brown’s invitation to attend the luncheon.

“When it comes to fighting for the rights of an American, you’re too tired from fighting for the rights of the only constituents you truly represent, elitists, illegals, and public sector union bosses,” the letter stated.

At the rally, Donnelly added: “I am not going to break bread with someone who has the power to reverse this great injustice and hasn’t done it. … I will not be inside having lunch, I will be out with the people, to make the Mexican president sure of our commitment to get our Marine back.”

College Fix contributor Lauren Lombardo is a student at Sacramento State University.

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