PVCC Puma Press: April 2006

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	photo by Bonnie Wentzel
	Phoenix students march in protest of HR 4437. The bill proposes criminalization of all undocumented immigrants.
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Defending their families and futures against a house resolution that would criminalise the illegal status of undocumented immigrants, approximately 2,000 Valley students walked out of their high school classrooms March 28 and marched to Wesley Bolin plaza located east of the state capitol building in downtown Phoenix

For a second consecutive day, police safely escorted large groups of students, who were protesting pending national immigration legislation, in the mid-day traffic.

House Resolution 4437 increases funding and technology for border and port security, imposes harsher penalties for human smuggling and speeds up the deportation process. The component of the bill that is getting most attention among students “makes illegal U.S. presence a crime; (and) increases penalties for improper U.S. entry,” according to congressional records.

“Laws shouldn’t be against immigrants. They are here to learn. They want to work. They don’t want anything free,” says Alex, 15, who completed the five mile walk from South Mountain High School.

Eduardo, 17, was born in the U.S. but his family was not. He is concerned that his family, whom he described as hardworking and smart, could be sent back to Mexico, leaving him alone.

Denise, 16, said more than half of her school (Alhambra High School) is Hispanic. She felt most of them came to the march. Her parents brought her to the U.S. at a young age. She worries she could be returned to a country she doesn’t know.

“...We have rights,” says Denise. “Our parents came here so we could have a better life, not to be criminals.” Her parents were aware of and supported her participation in the protest.

Students came in waves from various area high schools including Alhambra, Camelback, Cesar Chavez, and South Mountain. Camelback High School students left campus about 11 a.m. and walked over eight miles and two hours to get to the rally.

Some students chanted and many displayed Mexican flags. For the most part, students talked among themselves and peacefully observed the gathering. Across the country thousands of students have participated in similar community protests.

“The radio said to come here,” says Itiel, 18, a West High School student, who heard the information on KNAI, La Campesina.

“We also got text messages,” adds his friend, Montserrat, 16. Other students mentioned MySpace as the source of their information.

“There are people still walking!” says Gloria, 18, from Cesar Chavez High School located at 43rd Avenue and Baseline Road. She marched because of “that HR4437. They are against us. All we want is something equal. If we weren’t here (in the U.S.) there would be a great impact,” she said referring to Mexican workers. “We work hard, and my family just wanted a better life.” Gloria believes the Mexican government is corrupt and opportunities are not available in Mexico for workers.

“My mom is a citizen,” says U.S.-born, 18-year-old Alexadra, a Cesar Chavez High School student, “... my dad is not but he has worked here for 15 years doing landscaping. He works almost every day from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.” She feels it is unfair to consider him “illegal.”

Anita, 15, an Alhambra High School student, was not worried about the possible consequences of her actions.

“They told us that we have a chance of getting suspended or even expelled for walking off the campus,” says Anita. She was attending the rally for her dad and family. “They (her parents) asked me if I wanted to take that chance and I said, ‘yes.’”

Students cheered as the final group of approximately 100 Cesar Chavez students entered the plaza completing their 7 1⁄2 mile walk. Shortly after, the crowd dispersed peacefully. Some headed for bus stops, some piled into vehicles and others simply walked back the way they came. More protests are planned for April.