Willow Glen Resident

News

Photograph by Brian Connelly

One Voice: Hundreds of high school students marched to San Jose City Hall on March 27 to protest proposed legislation that would have charged illegal immigrants and those who help them as felons. Students from Willow Glen High School participated in the event.

Marching for a cause close to home

Students want to be part of dialogue

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The national debate over how to deal with illegal immigrants hit home for many Willow Glen High School students.

About 30 students were involved in a walkout on March 27 that was organized after the lunch hour, said Principal Elaine Farace.

"We understand their concerns," Farace said. "They were very respectful and just wanted a way to be heard."

There were no disruptions to the classrooms, and things were done in a calm manner, Farace said.

But there were consequences for leaving the school campus.

"We told the students that they would have to attend a Saturday school and would receive a failing grade for the day," Farace said.

Farace also told the students who went to the protests to be careful as they crossed streets toward downtown. The students left in an orderly fashion, and the school notified the students' parents.

This was not the only way students made their voices heard.

Teachers spoke to the students about alternatives to protesting, such as letter writing and voicing their opinions about the proposed laws in the cafeteria during lunch.

"We all believe they have power in their voice and have suggested to them to write letters to their congressmen and governor," Farace said.

During lunchtime, there was an open microphone available for the students to express their concerns and opinions.

"Students described their passions and their feelings to the rest of the school," said English teacher Scott Peterson. "Most said they felt attacked because their country, the place where they live, is becoming less welcoming to them."

Peterson said there's a sense of urgency around this particular issue.

"Students also have a fear that the country wants to build a Berlin Wall along the Mexican border," he said. "They feel under attack and devalued and want their voice to be heard."

A group of students, however, thought this was not sufficient and met with Farace and Peterson to brainstorm how to educate the rest of their school on the issues pertaining to the immigration debate.

Ivan, a freshman, and Elizabeth, a senior, attended both the walkout on March 27 as well as the protests during the weekend.

The students asked their last names not be used because their parents are undocumented.

"Walking out was a way for students to show that we are aware of the issues and that we are serious about how we feel about them," Elizabeth said, "and as a result, we have to attend Saturday school."

It was a way to set an example for their peers and community, Elizabeth said.

"I was willing to be involved in anything that would protest the proposal," she said. "I wanted to feel as if I did something about it and didn't just sit and complain."

The proposed law effects many "innocent" people, children, wives and elderly, Ivan said.

The students said there are many misconceptions about immigrants; one of the group's goals is to change these views.

"People see the labor workers at the Home Depot, but don't see their family or their struggle," Ivan said. "People don't see them as people; they see them as a problem."

These misconceptions are worsened through racism, the students said.

Ivan said his family has experienced racism in its own neighborhood.

"Once, we were washing our car in our driveway and a neighbor yelled, 'Go back to Mexico, wetbacks!' "

Ivan called the proposed law "unjust."

"If illegal immigrants become felons for being here, our prisons will be overpopulated by working people who haven't done anything wrong."

Peterson admires the students for wanting to take action.

"They have proved that they are willing to take risks on behalf of their beliefs and their family," Peterson said. "That's powerful."

He said it's especially hard for these students since they are the one group with the least say because they are too young to vote or because of their status in this country.

Peterson said the impact of the proposed laws is already being felt.

He described one of his students who has done everything that the country asked her to do--learn the language, become part of the culture and better her future.

"She has the desire to stay because our education system can offer her a good future," Peterson said.

But she is looking at colleges in Mexico because her family is afraid they might have to leave the United States before things get worse, he said.

"It's disturbing that someone would be made to feel like that in their own community," Peterson said. "All of us are descendents of onetime immigrant families, but we get caught up with questions of legality, of status and of property. We need to find a way to share our abundance."