UNC students braved the chilly, wet weather Friday night to rally for the DREAM Act.

The event, called Give Up Your Dreams for the DREAM, was geared toward gathering support for the bill, which would allow undocumented minors who have been in the country for more than five years to become citizens if they complete two years of college or military service.

The event Friday marked the culmination of Immigrant Advocacy Week, during which Students United for Immigrant Equality hosted a series of events that sought to raise awareness for issues surrounding immigrants’ rights.

About 40 people gathered at the Pit for food, music and various performances as event organizers focused on the legislation’s college requirement.

“We don’t want to stand by while injustice is happening nearby,” said Ariel Eure, president of the group, and the event’s organizer. “We believe education is a right and not a privilege, and so we decided to act.”

The bill has been floating for nearly a decade in Congress and was most recently being defeated as part of a military budget bill in September.

Performers from Sacrificial Poets read poems related to human rights and touched on the wrongs that supporters believe the DREAM Act will right.

“We believe there is a lot of injustice in this world,” said Will McInerney, the Sacrifical Poets leader, “so we seek to break this silence and speak on issues that are affecting our local community and our collective world.”

Since the midterm elections, in which Republicans took control of the House of Representatives and made significant gains in the Senate, the event’s participants have become worried about the bill’s future.

“Our community is under attack now,” said Viridiana Martinez, an activist and founder of NC Dream Team. “Whether you’re in college or not, standing on the sideline is no longer an option, so stand up and fight for your community.”

Eure was more confident about the DREAM Act’s fate.

“We refuse to let this negative feedback affect us, and it even fuels our desire to fight harder,” said Eure, who hopes to establish a scholarship for undocumented students in the UNC system who cannot receive federal aid.

Justin Valas, another activist and the event’s final speaker, asked attendees to call Sen. Kay Hagan to encourage her to support the DREAM Act.

“Make a call every day,” he instructed.

He then issued a broader request of the rally’s participants.

“I challenge you for what this is tonight, because I’ve lost my friends, and I don’t want to lose them anymore.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.