Effects of walkout minimal
By Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/31/2007 12:01:02 AM PDT

POMONA - A little more than a year ago, thousands of students walked out of their classrooms as part of immigration-reform protests.

That situation was expected to be repeated Friday, but to the relief of many, mass walkouts never happened.

About 35 Pomona High School students did leave the campus area about noon and headed to City Hall. Once at City Hall, they were met by Pomona Unified School District Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana and other school-district officials. The students were spoken to and persuaded to return to school on school buses waiting nearby.

On March 27, 2006, thousands of Inland Valley high school students walked out to protest HR 4437, a sweeping immigration-reform bill. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives and would have made it a felony to be in the United States illegally and a crime to aid the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country. It did not pass the Senate.

Police Chief Joe Romero said planning on the part of the school district, police and city combined with the involvement of parents, students leaders and others resulted in students staying in school on Friday.

The collaborative effort was critical but there was another important
element - the students themselves.

"Our students have shown they have the capacity to talk things out," Romero said.

Melenedez de Santa Ana said many people worked to make sure all went well Friday.

A group of more than 20 mothers showed up at Marshall Middle School right about the time students were headed for gates. Melenedez de Santa Ana said the mothers lined up in front of the school and their presence alone was enough to send students back to class.

The city hauled out its mobile stage, complete with microphones, and stationed it in front of the Pomona Public Library for students to use if a walkout occurred, city spokeswoman Monique Valadez said. This stage was set up to avoid shouting matches and allow students to speak in an orderly fashion.

Arrangements were made to have Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs, who was in Pomona to meet with constituents, available to meet with students at City Hall.

At the schools, letter-writing campaigns, open-microphone sessions, exhibits focusing on Cesar Chavez and other activities gave students avenues to discuss their concerns, Melendez de Santa Ana said.

Jaime Corona, 13, was among the students who showed up at City Hall after school to speak with Napolitano and used the opportunity to invite her to visit his school, Emerson Middle School.

Napolitano accepted his invitation, and her legislative assistants gave their cards to Jaime.

The middle-school students would like to meet and speak with Napolitano, Jaime said later.

"They're asking questions, and they want answers," he said.

Several student from various high schools in the city, including Vanessa Palomo, 17, a Ganesha High School junior, presented stacks of letters to Napolitano.

Being able to speak with Napolitano is important, Vanessa said.

"You get to express more stuff and get the support of people higher up than school and city leaders," Vanessa said. "It lets us know there is still hope for cities like Pomona. That we're not one of the lost communities."

Activities at Ganesha High included a letter-writing campaign in which students expressed that the nation needs humane immigration policies, students said.

Vanessa said she posted a message on MySpace.com chastising students who favored a walkout.

Vanessa said Cesar Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union, worked for immigrant rights as well as educational opportunities, and if students walked out of school it would go against all he worked for.

"Why would we dishonor him like that?" she said after meeting with Napolitano.

Melendez de Santa Ana said what everyone sought was the safety of students and ways that allowed them to express themselves in a productive manner.

"I think what we're doing is giving kids an opportunity to have a voice," she said.

Allowing them to write to Napolitano "and have their letters delivered to her, has allowed them to be a part of the democratic process," Melendez de Santa Ana said.

Napolitano said she was glad to see that students overwhelmingly decided to stay in school.

"They stayed in school and put their needs and wants in writing," she said.

The experience allowed them to experience another way of calling attention to their concerns, to meet with people and begin working with others to find solutions.

Now it's time for them to learn to join forces with others and address other critical matters.

"They need to start working with other groups on other issues such as gangs and drugs and graffiti," Napolitano said.

Staff writer Monica Rodriguez can be reached by e-mail at m_rodriguez@dailybulletin.com, or by phone at (909) 483-9336.

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