Student Walkout Redux?

Those who support "rights" for illegal aliens are being urged to take to the streets today:

Los Angeles - Demonstrators demanding a path to US citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants hope that nationwide marches will spur Congress to act before the looming presidential primaries take over the political landscape.

Marches, meetings and voter registration drives were planned Tuesday from California to New York, a year after 1 million flexed their economic muscle in a nationwide boycott during last year's May 1 activities.

Though this year's turnout will likely be lower, organizers say immigrants in the United States feel a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections.

"If we don't act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing," said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "They won't have the courage to resolve a major situation for millions of people."

In Miami, Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean was scheduled to speak to a coalition of immigrant groups, while Ricardo Chavez, the brother of famed agricultural labor leader Cesar Chavez, was expected address crowds in Milwaukee.

In Washington, DC, about 400 members of Asian groups from across the country were set to make a lobbying push with lawmakers. Students planned to march in Chicago.

In New York, groups are planning an "American Family Tree" rally, where immigrants will pin paper leaves on a large painting of a tree to symbolize the separation of families because of strict immigration laws.

Meanwhile, high school students around the country are also being incited to walkout of classes today. In San Diego area school districts, officials are pleading for students to stay in the classroom:

SAN DIEGO -- The Oceanside School District is urging parents to encourage their children to stay in school Tuesday.

The district hopes a phone call to parents will help prevent a situation like last year where hundreds of students walked out of school as part of a statewide immigration protest.

During the two days of walkouts, some students were pepper-sprayed when they threw objects at police

"We want to make sure that no one gets hurt or in trouble. If you want to get involved in that type of protest, do it after school," said Oceanside Assistant Superintendent Herb Brown.

San Diego city high schools are making a similar plea to students.

We've always thought it interesting that when such protests are scheduled after school hours, the turnout of student "activists" is nearly always very small. ---------------------------See our latest posts.