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Students Walk Out in Protest of Anti-Immigrant Legislation

IMC-US, 30.03.2006

Tens of thousands of high school students have walked out of their classes this week in protest of the wave of racist anti-immigrant legislation pending in Congress. HR 4437 would make being an undocumented immigrant a felony and criminalize anyone who offered non-emergency assistance to undocumented workers and their families.

Massive walkouts began in Los Angeles on Friday March 24th and continued on Monday, where according to the School District's count, 24,580 students walkout of classes in protest. Word spread quickly and similar walkouts were soon in effect from San Diego to Orange County (1 | 2) to Fresno (1 | 2 | 3); and across the western states from Houston (1 | 2) to the Bay Area and Central Coast.

By Wednesday authorities were cracking down. Reports from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Watsonville indicate that police are dealing harshly with students, and some districts, working with local police, have implemented lockdowns to prevent students from leaving campuses. Other authority figures have both offered support for the student's cause while urging students to remain in school.

Audio:
Democracy Now Coverage
Free Radio Santa Cruz interviews Jenn & Ramiro of the Brown Berets
Undocumented Students Tell Their Story

Video:
Westchester High Walkout

First Person Testimonies:
Stopped in Traffic in LA
Watsonville Student's Take
a black anarchist's take on the march/walk-outs: 1 | 2

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