Orange County High School Students Fight Against Billboards
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/5/emw236564.htm
O.C. High School Students Fight to Preserve State and National Identity
A group of high school students say a billboard that read "Los Angeles, Mexico" and, finding it offensive to Southern California, have been actively protesting that the sign be changed.
SANTA ANA, CA (PRWEB) May 6, 2005 -- Six Calvary Chapel High School student protestors received 79 honks of appraisal at last count. They were also flipped the bird seven times in two days.
At the intersection of Fairview and Anton stands a billboard advertisement for Noticias 62, a local Hispanic news station. The words "Los Angeles, CA" are printed upon it in bold letters with a Mexican monument superimposed over the L.A. skyline in the background. The high school students agree that they wouldn’t mind if the sign simply joined Mexican imagery with California’s name, as if to promote harmony between culture and geography. What they mind is the fact that "CA" is purposefully crossed out and replaced with the word "Mexico."
"Los Angeles is in the United States of America, not Mexico," said Santa Ana resident Josh Kuhn, 18. "A billboard promoting otherwise is completely wrong. We’d like to see the sign changed."
Empowered by their government teacher’s suggestion that action leads to change, the six students banded together after their Advanced Placement Language exam and made signs countering the sentiment of the billboard.
"One had a map of California and Mexico on it, with Los Angeles clearly labeled in its correct location," said Santa Ana resident Stuart Kirkland, 18, of his fellow protestors’ signs. "Another one said ‘Honk if L.A is still in California!"
The students are not at all bothered by the promotion of Mexican heritage in California, as they recognize that Santa Ana and Los Angeles both have high Hispanic populations. Rather, they are offended by the demotion of their own country and heritage for the mere sake of product publicity.
"We believe that this is a detriment to California pride and patriotism," said protester Alex Pockett, 18. "Why can’t people be proud of their heritage and that they are part of the United States? We should be proud that we are Americans, regardless of race. That’s the joy of being American."
Charles Eldridge, Calvary Chapel’s Advanced Placement Government teacher, is impressed with his students’ initiative and passion. "I think it’s great to see young people take issue with something they feel strongly about," said Eldridge. "My students are proud of the cultural diversity in their cities, and proud of their country because it fosters that diversity. They want California to be for everyone, not just for one group."
Eldridge grew up in Santa Ana and has deep family ties to the city. His grandmother, Beverly Eldridge, was crowned Miss Santa Ana in her youth and has a street named for her where her family farm used to stand. There is also a local park named in honor of his grandfather, Colonel William Warner Eldridge, Jr. "This is my city as much as anyone else's," said Eldridge. "It can't belong to a sovereign state and neither can L.A."
The students have plans to continue protesting indefinitely and hope more will join their fight for restoring California’s good name to both the sign and to the hearts of residents who may take their geographic location for granted. Anthony Alcala, 17, wants to make it clear that "this is not a protest against Mexicans or illegal immigration; it’s a protest against the undermining of our state and country’s integrity."
"We've received more positive support than negative reactions," added Kirkland.
These students are not the first locals to find issue with the sign. Clear Channel owns the billboard space and has reportedly received several complaints about it.
KRCA-TV Channel 62 was not available for comment.
Your support is much appreciated.
Greetings all,
This is Stuart Kirkland (one of the teens involved in the protest). Your support and appreciation for our efforts is appreciated more than you could know. Our protest began as just three of us with signs on a Monday afternoon, and by Wednesday there were over 8 of us with more signs and a couple flags. This is such an example of how the internet can amplify grassroots politics to a level of greater importance. Thank you all for your support.
-Stuart Kirkland
