SF State students from Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztlán and the Black and Brown Liberation Coalition met at the Phillip Burton Federal Building Tuesday morning for the “Amor por Alex” rally.

Alex Nieto, a former City College of San Francisco student and community activist, was shot and killed by four San Francisco police officers in 2014 at Bernal Heights Park. 

More than 100 students, community activists, leaders, and supporters appeared at the rally to show their support and stand in solidarity for seeking justice for the wrongful killing of Nieto.

I’m a person of color, and lives are being lost,” said Savanah Maya, an SF State student and MEChA member. “If someone gets shot, people should be critical.”

Being at the rally not only shows support, but also, love, according to Maya.

“Make time for things you care about,” Maya said.

Maya has been active within her own community in Santa Barbara, where she said she learned to become a listener first, then act. She said that students should care more for their respective communities and step outside any confining four walls.

MEChA and the BBLC have been involved with the Alex Nieto rally because they could’ve been in the same position Nieto was, according to both Maya and Davis.

“We have to bridge solidarity between black and brown,” said Imani C. Davis, an SF State student and member of the BBLC.

Davis said she wanted to show her support because it was important to further the liberation of black and brown lives, a cause MEChA and BBLC share.

“We have to show the powers that be that we’re not backing down,” Davis said. “We have to bridge the struggle with black and brown unity.”