http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_3807306

Racial tensions swell at Castro Valley High
By Martin Ricard - STAFF WRITER
May 10, 2006

Hundreds of Castro Valley High students protested with flags in front of the school today in what was supposed to be a day of unity but instead escalated into a clash of cultures bubbling with pride.

The protests, which took place throughout the day, swelled into a rally cry at lunchtime when a group of mainly white and Latino students began carrying American and Mexican flags in response to last Friday's Cinco de Mayo celebration. The display Friday threatened to erupt into a fight when two white students began flaunting their American flags.

The conflict has left some students and school officials divided on how to reconcile their differences about the recent illegal immigration debate.

''The administration said we couldn't use our flags, and that's not right,'' said senior Justin Wright, who placed an American flag and a Bob Marley flag in each one of his truck's windows to represent both his white and black heritage. ''We're not trying to be racist, or say that everybody else is wrong. We just want to be able to rock our flag.''

Administrators said students could engage in displays, but only at designated times. No one was suspended, school officials said, but the day's events have become part of the school's growing pains as changing demographics are pushing students to rethink how they belong.

''Castro Valley is changing demographically and, as the school population changes, we're facing different challenges (in getting students to respect each other's background),'' said assistant principal Lisa Garcia. Today's protests evolved after students began posting messages on their MySpace.com Web pages, urging others to join them Monday in wearing their native flags at school.