North County demonstrations continue a second day
By: PAUL EAKINS - Staff Writer | ∞
Vista High School students hold American and Mexican flags during a second day of demonstrations to protest immigration legislation Tuesday.
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NORTH COUNTY ---- More than 1,700 students took to the streets Tuesday, as a second day of protests over proposed federal immigration laws swept through North County.
From Escondido and San Marcos to Encinitas and Oceanside, protesters waved flags, walked miles and chanted slogans to decry congressional attempts to toughen laws targeting illegal immigrants.
Authorities said the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, with just three arrests, all in Vista. That brings the total number of people arrested in North County protests during the last two days to at least 29.
Some of the largest protests were in Vista ---- where hundreds of students marched across town as watchful sheriff's deputies trailed them ---- and in San Marcos, where throngs gathered at Cal State San Marcos, including hundreds who had walked miles from downtown Escondido.
School officials reported higher rates of absenteeism and said the walkouts could cost school districts thousands of dollars in state funding that is based on student attendance.
A few North County campuses were briefly "locked down" to prevent students from leaving classrooms as protesters passed by and encouraged people to join them.
While some protesters said more demonstrations were likely in the coming days, educators and law enforcement officials said they hoped that rain in the forecast would convince more students to return to school.
Escondido, San Marcos unite
About 600 protesters in Escondido and San Marcos joined forces Tuesday, as about 400 Escondido demonstrators marched west all morning along West Mission Avenue to meet up with about 200 San Marcos students.
The marches were mostly peaceful and the Escondido protest was calmer than the one Monday, when several students clashed with police officers in Escondido and two dozen people were arrested. No protesters were arrested Tuesday in Escondido or San Marcos, authorities said.
Unlike Monday's rally in Escondido, some parents and community activists were on hand Tuesday to guide the mostly young demonstrators and ensure their safety as they walked along busy roadways. This time around, there also were many more Escondido middle school students, which school officials said created a noticeable absence at the campuses.
But many of the protesting students, and some parents, seemed indifferent to missing class and the thousands of dollars school districts could lose for having low attendance rates even for one or two days.
And many students said more school walkouts and rallies are likely in the coming week.
"If it has to (be), we are going to be here tomorrow and the next day and the next," said Diego Olea, 18, a senior at Orange Glen High School.
Olea said he thought most of the student protesters were legal residents or U.S. citizens, but were motivated by concerns that the legislation could hurt their families.
"All of these kids aren't going to be affected, but most of their parents will," Olea said.
A little guidance
After Monday's events, in which 21 minors and three adults were arrested and physical confrontations occurred in Escondido, parents and activist leaders decided to join in Tuesday's demonstration.
Mario Moreno, of the North County-based Coalition of Justice, Peace and Dignity, was one of several adults and high school students who led the Escondido group to San Marcos, keeping protesters on the sidewalks and moving in a safe, orderly fashion.
But, Moreno and other adults said they hadn't planned the event, they only joined it.
"They organized themselves," Moreno said. "We're just here in support and solidarity with them, to try to direct them and mediate between them and the police."
Several Escondido students who said they had helped organize Tuesday's rally, said they had used the Web site myspace.com to coordinate with the San Marcos students. This was the same site used by many students to implement Monday's demonstration, students have said.
A few Escondido residents who didn't have school-age children, but said they were illegal immigrants, marched with the students. Several carried small children or pushed strollers.
Enrique Alvarez, a graphic artist from San Marcos, said he decided to participate in Tuesday's rally to support the cause with his 15-year-old son, Armando Rojo, a student at Mission Hills High School.
Alvarez said that by missing school, the students were drawing attention to their cause and learning to stand up for their rights.
"Parents know any day off school for kids means they aren't learning," he said. "But hopefully it will be balanced out with what they learn here."
Missing school
Most students said they were willing to accept the consequences of missing classes because they believed in their message.
"I've learned when a lot of people get together they can make change," Ana Andrade, a 16-year-old Mission Hills student, said. "I'm worried about getting behind while missing school, but I know it's for a good cause."
Although mostly high school students attended Monday's rally in Escondido, many younger students, especially those from Hidden Valley Middle School, joined the demonstration Tuesday.
Escondido Union School District Superintendent Mike Caston estimated that about 30 percent of the district's approximately 6,170 middle school students were absent Tuesday. Normally, only about 10 percent are absent most days, Caston said.
Caston said students from Orange Glen High had passed by Hidden Valley during their march early Tuesday and encouraged about 75 to 100 middle school students to join them before classes had started.
The district locked down all five middle school campuses during the rest of the day.
While most students seemed dedicated to their cause, a few admitted they had joined the demonstration in part just to leave school. One middle school student said he was there "just to ditch."
Mostly peaceful protests
Before the long line of Escondido protesters headed toward San Marcos, it snaked around Grape Day Park in downtown Escondido, the site of Monday's conflicts.
During the long march out of Escondido to San Marcos, San Diego County Sheriff's Department deputies paralleled the protesters with lights flashing, forcing traffic to distance itself from the students and reminding the protesters to stay on the sidewalk.
A few scuffles and shoving matches occurred among the teenage activists during the four-hour walk, but the group heard mostly honks of support from passing cars, several of which passed with Mexican flags flying. A few motorists shouted obscenities.
"Anything that complicates traffic in San Marcos is a problem," said Capt. Tom Bennett of the sheriff's station in San Marcos. "Motorists get annoyed whenever their routine is different."
He said there were 10 patrol cars out and more than 70 deputies were on stand-by in the city.
After the students arrived at Cal State San Marcos amid chants of "Mexico" and "U.S.A.," clapping and cheering, student and activist leaders such as Moreno spoke to the students, encouraging them to be united but peaceful in their demonstrations.
After the rally had finished, Arcela Nunez-Alvarez, the associate director of the National Latino Research Center at Cal State San Marcos, said the students needed more leadership in their demonstrations.
"The parents need to get together and find a way to get the kids back in school," Nunez-Alvarez said. "If the kids don't have a clear strategy of what they want, this could go on forever."
A long walk and no buses
The lack of leadership became evident at the end of the event around 2 p.m., when many Escondido students seemed at a loss for how they would get back home.
While the San Marcos students could easily walk home, the Escondido students seemed reluctant to retrace their four-hour walk. Some apparently expected that buses would be waiting for them at the end of the march.
On Monday, Escondido Union High School District officials sent school buses to Grape Day Park to return students to class when they had finished their rally.
Moreno, the activist leader, collected money from students to buy food and water for them, and said the remaining money could be used for bus fare.
However, when Moreno didn't return quickly, many students began dispersing. Some began walking, while others got rides with friends or supporters of the protesters who had driven to the rally at Cal State San Marcos.
Moreno eventually returned with fruit, snacks and water for the students, who snapped up the food before heading toward a bus stop.
More marches in Vista
While 600 students gathered in San Marcos, more than 1,000 demonstrated in other parts of North County.
In Vista, about 500 student protesters waved Mexican flags and chanted "Mexico" and "Yes we can" in Spanish as they walked for hours along an eight-mile route between Vista and Rancho Buena Vista high schools, and Guajome Park Academy.
"We're just doing this primarily because we're trying to let people know that our race isn't going to be easily suppressed," said Luis Colmemares, a senior at Vista High who was part of the protest.
A total of 17 sheriff's deputies followed the protesters through the city for much of the day, making three arrests as hundreds of students ---- many from Vista High ---- rallied in the morning in front of Rancho Buena Vista, authorities said.
Both high schools were temporarily locked down when the protest neared their campuses, officials said.
The protests didn't have much of an effect on the school day itself, though it could cost the district thousands of dollars in lost average daily attendance money, said interim Superintendent Darrel Taylor.
The long march undertaken by the students was a change from Monday, when Rancho Buena Vista Principal Richard Alderson persuaded students not to leave the campus but to join an assembly in the school stadium to discuss the immigration issue. About 600 went to the assembly, while another 100 opted to leave the campus and form a protest march.
Oceanside students trek 8 miles ... and back
Though both of Oceanside's two regular high schools had little involvement in Monday's first round of student protests, both schools made up for lost time Tuesday.
Between 300 and 400 students from El Camino and Oceanside high schools marched through the city to the Oceanside Band Shell next to the city's pier.
Along the eight-mile route, the Oceanside Police Department kept pace with the cheering marchers, blocking side streets and holding up vehicles to protect the protesters.
Claudia Tecontero, a 10th-grader from El Camino High, stood among the crowd, screaming along with hundreds of her classmates. She said the protest's purpose was to let people know that Latinos are good people who just want to work and be educated.
"We are not here to take nothing from no one," she said. "We're not terrorists. We just want to stay here and be educated."
While Oceanside's protest was largely peaceful, there were a few reports of vandalism as the marchers moved through downtown.
Richard B. Vogenitz, 84, said he and a 90-year-old companion were driving on Mission Avenue after a visit to the beach when his car was pelted with rocks by protesters from Oceanside High School. He said protesters yelled obscenities at them, and seemed to target his car because it had an American flag in the window.
"I don't get frightened easily, but (we were)," Vogenitz said.
Principals for both high schools said students who participated in Tuesday's march would be considered truant and would in all likelihood have to serve a four-hour Saturday school as punishment.
Other marches
About 100 high school-aged children and some adults marched from Fallbrook Union High School north along Main Street to the community center, sheriff's Sgt. Rich Hendrickson said Tuesday.
A group of more than 200 held a similar march in downtown Fallbrook on Monday night.
In Encinitas, nearly 100 teens from San Dieguito Academy and La Costa Canyon high schools skipped school to assemble at the city's busiest intersection to wave Mexican and U.S. flags and hoist protest signs.
"Some of our parents are illegal immigrants," said Martin Diaz, 17, a San Dieguito Academy senior.
La Costa Canyon student Jessica Cortez, 17, said that Tuesday's rally was her first and that her mother had called the school to excuse her from class.
"My mom knows and is proud," Jessica said. "She knows (missing school) is wrong, but it comes from the heart."
Staff writers David Sterrett, Melanie Marshall, Brenda Duran, Stacy Brandt, Scott Marshall, Paul Sisson, Chris Tribbey, Lorell Fleming and Adam Kaye contributed to this story.
More Stories
- Oceanside High erupts in protest as smaller rally begins in Vista
- Students on the march in Vista, Oceanside and other communities
- North County demonstrations continue a second day
- Local council members show little support for student demonstrations
- Districts say they're concerned about safety, absences affecting budgets
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The`Dude wrote on Mar 29, 2006 1:14 AM:It very obvious that many of the people of the Oceanside Hispanic community are here for a better education and job and I don't blame them for coming here but if you're not a U.S citizen you don't have a right to be here, they should be deported back to their home town instead of marching through the streets causing all kinds of noise and if you're so proud to be waving your Mexican flag at City Hall why don't you go wave at your City Hall in Mexico if you have one. This is the same crap happening over like when Proposition 187 was announced years back, people flooding the streets casuing all kinds of uneccessary noise.
Hector wrote on Mar 29, 2006 4:04 AM:These Mexican flag wavers hate America. They think California was unjustly taken from Mexico. They are reclaiming the land for Mexico. The sooner they are deported, the sooner students get back to learning. Isn't that their job?
Hector wrote on Mar 29, 2006 4:17 AM:Since when do protesters have the right to occupy Oceanside City Hall? What good are police in riot gear if all they do is sit back and watch? We have lost control of our country to a bunch of illegal spoiled brats. No country could defeat our military. We are brought to our knees internally by illegal Mexican aliens. Deport them immediately, while there is still time, before the situation spirals out of control!
IRATE wrote on Mar 29, 2006 4:32 AM:I sincerely hope this issue comes to a head. We're dancing all around the edges. IMHO it might be better to force the issue now than wait for the warm weather to hit. To deny that this is becoming a serious crisis is blatantly irresponsible! If it sells newspapers, go for it. Maybe Fox News should set up an office here. I don't see anything to be gained by ill-conceived political correctness. We, the citizens of North County, have our noses rubbed into this out of control mess every day. It affects us all. I suppose it would be too much to ask for the North County Times to step up to the plate and realize that this newspaper is being printed in the USA. Where will the citizens' rights be when everyone has had his say? Please inform us when the time has come to ask Vincente Fox what our country can do for him.
jeff wrote on Mar 29, 2006 6:16 AM:You didn't find my previous comments to your liking and didn't have the integritey to print something that does not agree with you. Quite frankly, students are not registered voters so their actions mean little. These protesters represent ignorance and a lack of knowledge. Most illegals come from Mehico that are protesting. Did they come here to live like they do in Mexico? Look at East Los Angeles and ask yourself if you want your area the same. These people need to learn to respect our laws, and learn our ways because that is what made this country a good place to live. Be a good potential citizen and start to do so by obeying the laws.
PC wrote on Mar 29, 2006 7:00 AM:I agree with you Jeff! Half of these kids are not old enough to vote, and can't because they are not citizens. We have protesters that are throwing rocks at people that have American flags on their cars. It is dispicable. San Diego is a beautiful place;you go into Mexico and all you see is their country littered with garbage.
Tom wrote on Mar 29, 2006 7:17 AM:American citizens have been warned about the ongoing invasion of America by Mexico for years. It is now apparent to all that the invasion is real, all around us, and ongoing with the virtual consent of all of our governments. Those are Mexican flags that 500,000 illegal aliens and their Marxist supporters were waving. Yes, American flags were handed out by the leaders but that was designed to confuse us. American flags were thrown to the ground when the cameras left. Americans need to turn off the TV, stop shopping and support patriotic organizations that have been warning and working to stop the invasion.
Tom wrote on Mar 29, 2006 7:17 AM:This week Presidents Bush and Fox are meeting with the Canadian PM Harper in Mexico to further implement the ‘Security and Prosperity Partnership Agreement’ (SPP), a EU style open borders through the back door scheme. SPP is just one root cause for the Mexican invasion along with La Reconquesta. They are working their plan and the plan is working for them and their client corporations. Get involved and vote our rascals out of office. Vote in true patriots.
pooo wrote on Mar 29, 2006 8:44 AM:the biil passed!!!! yess
Chris wrote on Mar 29, 2006 8:59 AM:The Latin invasion is coming and there is nothing you conservatives can do about it. All this bill is going to do is fill up the jails and guess what the money still comes from tax payers. You also think buy adding more border patrol and building a wall will do anything. We Mexicans will just dig a hole underground and keep coming whether you like it or not. So the invasion is still strong and we multiply like crazy, so won't you be my neighbor! Latinos are taking over so if you don't like it go back to Europe were you belong in the first place. Latino nation!!!!!!!! Only in America.
Brie wrote on Mar 29, 2006 9:11 AM:its obvious that these "flag wavers" came to america for a better lifestyle, we are not criminals we are human beings just like everyone else. Some immagrants do not deserve to be here because they are dirty and they are messing up everyone else's chance and makin immagrants look bad. but then again there are some immagrants who do deserve to be here because they have a family and a good job not to mention they make good money, more then they would in their own country. Don't punish all for a few. Crazy to think that racism still exsists till this very day.
O'side wrote on Mar 29, 2006 9:26 AM:Why are they not protesting down in their own country for a better way of life instead of coming to this country ilegally? Because we hand them everything a coddle them. If they tried to do in mexico what they are doing here they would be arrested, beaten and when they are locked up they would have to have family members bring them food and anything else they needed. Sure isn't what they get here. Go back to mexico and work at making your country the one you are so proud to say you belong to a better country rather than trying to distroy our country. GO BACK TO MEXICO AND TRY MAKING IT BETTER. Mexico won't give them a FREE RIDE that's for sure.
KA wrote on Mar 29, 2006 9:38 AM:The Escondido kids had to walk back? They wondered why there was no bus service to bring them back to school? Were they expecting a nice free hot lunch to welcome them on their return? Sorry but we had to work to try to pay for all these freeloaders
Marie wrote on Mar 29, 2006 10:16 AM:AS I stood in Oceanside's City Hall yesterday and watched an African American man speaking to the Hispanic children that were screaming and throwing water on everyone and rocking someone's truck in the parking lot, he was telling them to educate themselves, go to college, that's how you make a difference. I thought about how my European ancestors came to this country by ship, and not under comfortable circumstances, and were placed on an island until they were processed which took months to happen, but still they waited their turn, they followed the process to become legal citizens. They did not riot and expect everything to just be handed to them because they did not want to adhere to the laws and rules. People will repspect you for how well you handle yourself in times of conflict. If you do not like the laws and rules, change them the right way. Thank you,
Daniel wrote on Mar 29, 2006 10:32 AM:I can see both sides of the story, Latinos have had no real immigration control and are agast that America would tighten its border. But American is our house, and if we have alowed the front door to not have a lock on it, making it easier for people that dont belong here to get here, then that was our choice. But we also have the right to put a lock on that door at any time we choose, it is OUR house not yours. And it sucks that this is turning into a racial issue for its not. The main problem I see is that, unless your an American indian, all Americans forefathers came from other countries, difference is they WANTED to be American, they wanted to join the team. Most illegals do not, they just want to get all they can from the US. Thats the problem. They want all the benifits of being American WITHOUT being American.
Objective wrote on Mar 29, 2006 10:33 AM:You know what happens if you protest in Mexico...you get arrested. In America you're granted the freedom to assemble but along with these freedoms comes the responsibility to follow our laws, which includes illegal immigration laws.
LILLIAN wrote on Mar 29, 2006 10:41 AM:ALL STUDENTS PROTESTING DURING SCHOOL HOURS [AND TEACHERS SUPPORTING THEM]SHOULD HAVE TO ATTEND SUMMER SCHOOL. THOSE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALY ARE FELONS.
Guiseppe wrote on Mar 29, 2006 11:08 AM:Are you familiar with the major student walkout that occurred 38 years ago in Los Angeles? The 1968 walkout of thousands of high school students started a revolution. The police back then were brutal, wielding near death blows to the young people. It was captured on film, hidden in archives for almost 25 years, when it was discovered. None of the newspapers dared publish the brutality at the time. Fortunately our police are move civil and professional now. One of the those student who walked out was Antonia Villaraigosa. Others have become academics and professionals in every walk of life. One of those student leaders in the walkout, Moctesuma Esparza, was valedictorian at Lincoln High School. Esparza is the executive producer of a film “Walkout”, just released, that recounts those historic days that rocked Southern California. It seems we never learn. These young people are not riff-raff. They are the future of America. They are the future political and academic leaders of our community and nation. I am aghast at the way our current oligarchy sequesters itself inside the walls of the Capital Palace in Washington, writing laws for injustice to protect their interests, oblivious of the wildfire for justice in the streets. The Republicans are making a fatal mistake in their mean-spirited disenfranchisement of our Latino Community. It is going to backfire on the Republicans on a national scale. What happened in California because of Pete Wilson and his proposition will happen now on a national scale. Their days are numbered.
Oside White Pride wrote on Mar 29, 2006 2:49 PM:Those who are arrested for disturbing the peace in this protest should be taken to TJ and dropped off.
OHS Student wrote on Mar 29, 2006 3:49 PM:I don't care so much that they protest, just do it afterschool and in SOME kind of organized manner. Not this riot crap that causes me to lose time in which I could better use to educate myself.
Hey O'side wrote on Mar 29, 2006 7:06 PM:Guess what? They've been in Mexico, working at those horrible jobs. The pay stinks, they work under decrepit conditions, and they're required to handle toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, benzene, etc. There's no work comp. No unions. No one to stick up for them. How horrible! These places are called Maquiladoras. They're owned by AMERICAN interests who don't want to pay AMERICANS to work like this. They don't want the headaches of the EPA, OSHA, or the AFL-CIO. So, make sure you include all the facts in your next 15 seconds of fame. Anyone with a keyboard can type.
ECHS Student wrote on Mar 29, 2006 8:47 PM:Does anyone know the name/number of whatever bill this is?
JPman wrote on Mar 29, 2006 8:59 PM:we only do this to show that we care about the new laws and not waste time with the white butted butts
SteveHarmonica wrote on Mar 29, 2006 10:11 PM:Civics lesson 101. Give these protesters an "A" for the day and our schools an "F" for not teaching phonics. The kids are partially correct, this country was founded on immigration... RELIGIOUS immigration. Unfortunately, America was also founded on slave labor. Economic immigration is protectionism and promotes an undiscerning type of slavery. It seems to me, that a homeless worker is always a disadvantaged worker. HR 4432 only needs a couple of modifications, a grandfather date for those people already here and employer sanctions. After all, the crime of being "undocumented" was not a felony when it was committed. In a few years, these kids will be able to sponser their parents and everything will work out without an amnesty. Prosecuting the current illegal employer is the most important part of immigration reform. Our money would be better invested in building an economic fence against greed rather than a border fence. Testifying against illegal employers should be an important part of the "Eleven Million" registering for legalization. If business can't afford American Labor, they need to either, relocate their businesses to the South, raise wages, or get a JOB. Ligitimate employers and workers will prosper when scu*bag employers are broken and destitute. Foremost, we need to endorse prosperity (nearshoring)in Mexico, South and Central America. BTW: I'm not anti-business, I'm anti-exploitation.
LU. wrote on Mar 30, 2006 3:26 AM:We are here for a better life. We are not freeloaders, we pay the same taxes that everyone else pays. Do not take away the life that we know. This new law will affect some one that we all kow. It might be a friends from school, or the guy who mows your lawn. I have never seen anything like this, these protesters are brave students who atr protesting and fighting for what they believe in. They are not trying to start any problems, they just want to be heard. How csn you be heard if you make no noise? Some of you might complain that all these students are doing is making noise, well let them make this noise. Let them be heard. Is this noise hurting you? Were you even there to hear this so called noise? Probably not. I support these students and against the HR4437 Bill.
VHS Student wrote on Mar 30, 2006 10:22 PM:I support everyone who is against HR4437, but I don't think that walking out of school is the correct way of handleling this issue. We should organize after school or on a weekened, but not during school hours. Lets take advantage of the free education we are getting in this wonderful country and let those who want to learn, learn. Many people are afraid of giving their opinion on this issue and if should't be this way. I respect everyone's opinion even if it is not the same as mine. It's sad that this is becoming an issue of race. Immigrants come looking for a better life for themselves and their family. HR4437 does not affect Mexicans only, it affects anyone who is an iligal immigrant(Salvadorenos,Irish, Japanese Colombianos etc). My parents immigrated to this country and even though they are citizens now,some years back they weren't. I would have hated to see them leave. People should get educated and stop being ignorant. Although the countries from were we, are beautiful I think they are a huge part of the problem. If the governments gaves us what we wanted we wouldn't have to come to these country and get explioded, and payed low wages. I am 100% positive Hr4437 will not pass. The sleeping giant has awakened.
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