On April 1st, 2025, this picture was taken at College of the Sequoias Visalia campus as students lined up in civil protest. At the time, a group of anti-abortion demonstrators from off-campus had populated the school, boasting posters that many students had found disturbing and misinformative. Students were advised to disengage with the messages by the superintendent of COS, to the disappointment of many. Instead of waiting for the school to come to their defense, dozens of students rallied the next day to give themselves their peers a voice. Student activist Yocelyn Torres led the group, and she would dub their committee, No More Hate.
Torres has attended COS for 3 years, starting as an Ethnic Studies major and becoming an Administration of Justice major. Growing up in Orange Cove before moving to Visalia, she saw the disparity in quality of life between Latino and Caucasian communities in Central California. Specifically, she recalls her and her family’s experiences with law enforcement, commenting “We shouldn’t have to witness our families living in fear of the police at eight years old.” She said the unfair treatment within her community gave her a strong belief in justice, getting her started as a student activist in high school.
Torres says she was drawn to the melting pot at COS, where students of all ages and backgrounds can congregate. However, she was shocked to find students and strangers provoking one another, adding “The uptick in these kinds of things is heartbreaking.” She saw political club members on campus instigating conflict, such as tagging the school with removable chalk to spread anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Additionally, she claims these bad actors would use campus security to silence others who disagreed with them, even suggesting racial bias. She adds, “This behavior has been allowed by the campus police,” having experienced this kind of harassment herself. Torres also reports that male participants in these groups would target female-presenting students, trying to scare them. Even the school’s infrastructure, such as a lack of visibility during the evening, has raised her concerns about the safety of women and students on campus.
These experiences have only emboldened Torres’ “If not me, then who?” mentality. She started by reaching out to the clubs to learn their reasons for their hostility on campus. However, it was quickly apparent to her that she was an outsider to them, and that she was unwelcome. She would take action by getting into contact with the MEChA club, where she would be invited to speak and collaborate with others who faced similar discrimination. She even reached out to members of the student senate, student body, and even the dean of the English department to spread awareness of the harassment that’s been long overlooked.
Eventually, Torres’ fellowship with her peers led her to form No More Hate, an organization of student activists. Her mission statement is to preserve a peaceful and civil environment, stating “It is important that the campus retains the culture that has always been there, but you have to protect it to make sure it stays there.” Because of the disappointing response from the superintendent and campus security, Torres wants to create a culture where all students feel like they can speak out against unfair treatment and abuse. With signs decorated with slogans and artwork, No More Hate will be there to speak out against injustice. She proclaims, “The campus isn’t taking care of this… now it’s in our hands to take care of this.”
All walks of life are welcome to join, so long as they remain respectful towards everyone in and outside of the group. Students with cognitive and physical disabilities are also encouraged to join, as Torres wants to “make sure anyone can participate wherever they see injustice.” To make sure as many people are involved, the group is committed to protecting and accommodating its members. If you are interested in getting involved or want to learn more, please message Yocelyn Torres at [email protected], or follow her Instagram (@fknyocelyn). If you spot No More Hate on campus, she also encourages you to meet her in person. Anyone is welcome to protest with them, as long as you follow their guidelines for demonstrating safely and civilly.
