High School Student Walk-Out in California . . . Update. . .

[GreenPoet64]

I just received a phone call from my 18-year-old son who is protesting the republican immigration bill/policies. He is standing at city hall in Rialto, California, with over 1,000 high school seniors from all over the Inland Empire. Evidently this protest was well-planned and kept secret enough for students to walk out before the schools locked down. He tells me that high school walk outs are planned for today all over Southern California. I just received a second phone call from him telling me that the Mayor of Rialto came out to address the students. Evidently the protest is peaceful and orderly. (However, the crowd must be huge because I could barely hear what he was saying over the roar.)

I don't have cable, so I'm not sure how much of this being covered in the news.

Update: Mayor spoke to students, telling them that she was glad that they were able to express their opinions in a non-violent manner. School busses will arrive at city hall shortly to take all students back to school. Students agreed to cooperate if they were given a chance to speak. Three representatives from each school will give speeches.

[Howardx]

1. its happening all over ca today

im in lakewood, which is pretty sleepy usually but we have a couple different groups marching around.

[GreenPoet64]

3. My son kept his protest plans secret . . . that's what amazes me! n/t

[uppityperson]

2. good job students

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. nothing on cable but

the Moussaoui trial and the wife who shot her minister husband.
Immigration reform on CNBC, but no mention of the protests.

[Sequoia]

8. Northern Cal too.

[GreenPoet64]

10. Wow! Northern Ca. too??? Where's the media? n/t

[laheina]

32. We held similar protests over prop 187.

Watch the uproar start to spread. :)

[GreenPoet64]

18. Any coverage yet? n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

25. MSNBC just did a few minutes on it...

"keeping an eye on the situation" for us, they said. :eyes:

[Howardx]

5. link to kcal9 (cbs) story

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_086114716.html

[GreenPoet64]

6. Thank you for the link ! n/t

[villager]

7. just saw one myself:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=765167&mesg_id=765167

[MADem]

9. Someone was watching HBO last night???

They ran that WALKOUT movie, about conditions for Mexican American kids in East LA high schools.

[Lars39]

26. They've been running it for about the last week or so. :^)

[ugarte]

11. I congratulate you. Sounds like a brave kid with principles...nt

[GreenPoet64]

14. Thank you . . . a quiet one . . . but with a big heart. . .

You can imagine my shock when I got the phone call. "Um . . . Mom, don't worry. I'm not at school. I'm at city hall. . . "

[Lochloosa]

37. Cook him something special tonight.

He deserves it!

[Radio_Guy]

12. I am proud of those kids

They are our future, and I can sleep just a little bit better knowing that kids like that will be running our country when I am old. :applause:

[Howardx]

13. another link

long beach protests

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_3644434


more on downtown LA
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-immigration,0,4991999.story?coll=ktla-newsspecial3-1

[Javaman]

15. When I hear about things like this, I filled with the feeling that there

is still hope for this country.

To quote an old but poignant saying, "right on!"

[astonamous]

16. I am proud of your son and all the kids.

I hope they keep this up. I haven't heard anything about protests here in Utah. I don't watch much of the local news though.

[GreenPoet64]

17. Thank you . . . I will share your comments with him. n/t

[Howardx]

19. orange county signing in!

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1074415.php

"Hundreds of students have reportedly walked out of classes in at least a half dozen Orange County high schools in protest of the immigration bill pending before Congress, police and school officials reported."

[GreenPoet64]

24. It looks like Palm Springs walked out too . . .

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060327/UPDATE01/60327005

[Viva_La_Revolution]

20. Blurb on MSNBC mentioned a web site

that was encouraging them to Walk Out. anybody know more?

edit: Flyers distributed on My Space. :)

[Howardx]

22. the ocregister article mentions myspace

as being where they planned it

[GreenPoet64]

21. "Tens of Thousands" says Sign-On San Diego.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20060327-1146-wst-immigrationrallies.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

23. Dallas too!

Dallas students stage walkout, march for immigrant rights
By The Associated Press
March 27, 2006

DALLAS (AP) — Hundreds of students walked out of several high schools in Dallas on Monday, marching to a park to rally for immigrant rights.

Some carried Mexican flags, other carried posters calling for Congress to recognize immigrant rights. Thousands of other protesters rallied around the country as Congress considers immigration measures.

The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment Monday that would protect church and charitable groups, as well as individuals, from criminal prosecution for providing food, shelter, medical care and counseling to undocumented immigrants. In December the House voted to make offers of non-emergency aid a felony.

The committee also approved more than doubling the current force of 11,300 Border Patrol agents Monday, in an effort to stem the tide of new undocumented workers arriving daily.

The bills have sparked protests nationwide in recent days.

[dogday]

33. I would expect to see San Antonio do something as well n/t

[RagingInMiami]

27. Awesome!

The people are rising.

[Howardx]

28. Inland Empire!

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/#a017279


"Students walk out of class in Corona, other Inland areas
Hundreds of high school students in the Corona-Norco school district walked out of class today to protest a U.S. House bill that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally.

Walkouts also were reported in Riverside, Cathedral City, Hemet and San Bernardino."

[SCDem]

34. I hope my almamater is walking out also

My first protest march was in Claremont against the first Iraq War.

[Ashy Larry]

29. Northern Virginia

As I was driving home, I passed a local high school in Arlington, Virginia. There must have been about a hundred students with signs saying "Immigrants are people too!", at the corner of a major intersection. I haven't seen any news coverage for them so I called a couple of the local TV stations. They had a sign asking drivers to honk their horns, so I did, along with several other cars at the red light. The students cheered. They made my day.

[GreenPoet64]

30. Sounds like it was nation-wide! Peaceful. Organized. Amazing. n/t

[phusion]

31. beautiful

Sounds national and well-planned. Way to go! :bounce:

[hedgehog]

35. This reminds me of the Heinlein novel - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (?)

the Revolution took place underneath everyone's nose by means of computer technology. My guess is that the walkouts are being organized as a massive chain letter being passed around by cell phone, text message and e-mail. It can't be stopped because there is no leadership, just everyone getting up and doing what has to be done. Sort of like the anarchy called for in V (Not the violence - just people standing up and not going along any more.)

[tishaLA]

36. I swear I just heard a slew of kids protesting near my apt.

I live in Hollywood. I'm happy to see so many kids, as young as 12 from the local news, engaged in the political discussion about this bill and willing to take a stand.

[WinkyDink]

38. We need one for the war. Millions of young people.

[SCDem]

39. I know that is the only thing that makes me sad about this

If this happened before the war when I marched with over 1/2 a million people in DC and others marched at the same time all around the world would the outcome have been different or maybe not the outcome but maybe more MSM would have been forced to pay attention.

[JuniperLea]

45. I've been thinking along the same lines

The thing that makes me sad is that I see so many Hispanics in the slums with old clunker autos that can barely make it another mile, and what do I see on the bumper? BUSH 04!!! That pisses me off to no end. How did the rest of us let them get so bamboozled? There must have been something in the local Spanish publications or television news that I missed. I hope this is a wakeup. All that being said, yes, I wonder if all the eyes that are currently open would have gathered in DC or in respective spots around the country.

CNN would still call it "hundreds".


The turnout Sunday here in Los Angeles was huge! And now the students. I wonder what tomorrow brings... food service? Trucking?

[GreenPoet64]

40. Houston, Tx

http://www.click2houston.com/news/8293383/detail.html

[flyarm]

41. CNN JUST SHOWED 100'S OF THOUSANDS PROTESTING IN DET

hundreds of thousands protesting in detroit...

look people this is serious..this is surely making rethugs hands sweating...they will not want to sign anything..or vote on paper record!

i just wonder..why are anglo americans not taking to the streets about..oh i don't know..illegal spying on americans..or stolen elections..or an illegal war of premption ??

i know we are all too busy...


fly

[mtnester]

42. Too bad this was not done in 04 when the it was the gay's turn

sorry - my son is gay...I wish this many people gave a damn about the horridly discriminating ballot initiatives in 04.

Yeah, I am bitter.

No - I do not think illegal immigrants should be turned into felons, however, those who hire them SHOULD.

[malaise]

43. The kids are waking up

Great news. Be proud of your son. This is for him :yourock:

[Howardx]

44. my local protest still going strong

they just marched by again, numbers considerably larger followed by what looked like every cop in lakewood:) on the corner at my local park a block away now. seemed very peaceful.

[Cleita]

46. How soon before Arnold calls out the National Guard?

Oops! They're in Iraq!