Thread: Student suspended for counter-protesting spurs Minuteman sup

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_3660390

Student suspended for counter-protesting spurs Minuteman support

Amy Frye, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

MIRA LOMA - Groups on both side of the immigration issue demonstrated on opposite sides of Bellegrave Street this morning near Jurupa Valley High School.
The protest began at 11 a.m.

The event came about after Jurupa Valley High student Josh Denhalter asked for permission, and was denied, to hold on campus a counter-protest to the recent demonstrations and walkouts opposing the harsher penalties for illegal immigrants in HR 4437.

He said he wanted to hold the rally to show support for the United States and the efforts to protect its borders.

Denhalter was joined by members of the Save Our State and Minuteman groups who carried a large number of American flags.

Members of groups identified as MEchA and Brown Berets counter-protested across the street from his group.

Denhalter was joined by about 100 people, with about 30 on the other side.

The demonstrators were relatively peaceful, chanting back and forth. One side yelled, "Racist MEchA go away" while the other chanted, "Racist hate, save our state" and "El pueblo unido, jamas sera vencido" ("The people united never will be defeated.")

A number of motorists honked their support, waving both Mexican and American flags.

About 65 percent of the Jurupa Valley High student body were in class, according to school officials. Some parents did keep their children from school today.

Riverside County sheriff's deputies stood on Bellegrave between the two groups.

Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minutemen group, was joined by a handful of his group's members. He said he attended primarily to support Denhalter's First Amendment right to protest.

Denhalter said he was suspended Thursday by school officials when he passed out fliers promoting the rally.

District and school officials said they could not comment on any student's suspension for confidentiality reasons, but a suspended student would not face further discipline for being on the sidewalk or street directly in front of the school.

http://dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3661251

Protesters face off
Opponents rally against migrant bill dissenters

By Amy Frye, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

MIRA LOMA - Opposing immigration protests held across the street from Jurupa Valley High School ended peacefully early Friday afternoon with both sides being escorted to their vehicles by Riverside County sheriff's deputies.

"The students need to say their peace on campus. No matter what your view is, you should be able to say your peace," said Jurupa Valley High School parent Renee Cortez as the protests were winding down.

The event started at 11 a.m. when a group of 50 to 75 people, including Minutemen Project and Save Our State group members, gathered on one corner of Bellegrave Avenue and Martin Street waving American flags and signs.

"We believe in legal immigration, not illegal immigration," said protester Don Schenck, of Corona.

The group waving American flags was organized by Jurupa Valley High School senior Josh Denhalter, who originally wanted to hold a counter-rally on his school campus in response to the recent walkouts against H.R. 4437 -- the House bill that would create harsher punishments for illegal immigration.

On an opposite street corner, a group of about 30, including members of MEchA and the Brown Berets, gathered and waved Mexican flags and banners. They were joined by a handful of Jurupa Valley High School students, who had completed classes for the day.

"We have this promise of unconditional inclusion -- the Statue of Liberty says bring us your poor, your tired, your weak," said Erika Gutierrez of the Southern California Human Rights Network.

Both sides had different views on the immigration issue, and both passionately expressed those opinions, but the majority of protesters appeared to support one another's right to express their views.

The ability to express opinions freely is what got many people to come out to the school in the first place. Denhalter said school administrators would not let him hold a rally on campus for safety reasons, and when he tried to pass out fliers on Thursday promoting a protest across the street from the school, he was suspended for three days, he said.

He also said that he was told if he came within 2,000 feet of the school, he would be arrested.

Elliott Duchon, superintendent for Jurupa Unified School District, said no request for a rally had been denied. Duchon would not confirm or make any comments about Denhalter's suspension for confidentiality reasons.

He did say that suspended students are not prohibited from being within 2,000 feet of the campus.

"Legally, any suspended student can walk on the sidewalk in front of the campus and the school would not take action -- unless they're disruptive," Duchon said.

Many of the protesters on Denhalter's side said they came simply to support his right to protest.

"I'm here to defend his civil rights protected under the First Amendment -- the fact that he wanted to waive an American flag on school property," said Gerry Nance of Save Our State.

Those across the street agreed that he should be able to voice his opinion.

"It's wonderful that (Denhalter) is trying to explore his right to protest, and unfortunate that the school didn't allow it," said Gutierrez, of the Southern California Human Rights Network.

Duchon said it will be up to Jurupa Valley Principal Ron Schecklen to decide whether the school will hold an open forum discussion about this issue when students return to campus after spring break.

An open discussion mediated by the president of MEchA was held on campus Monday to allow students to discuss the immigration issue instead of walking out of school.

Denhalter said those who opposed illegal immigration felt intimidated about speaking at the open discussion. As a result, he just wanted to be treated like MEchA and be able to hold a rally, he said.

Some students said they worry that Friday's protest will incite future violence on the campus.

"There were already problems here. This just brought it out," said 18-year-old senior Juan Martinez, about his school that is 63 percent Hispanic and 33 percent white.

Duchon said only 65 percent of the student body came to school Friday, but added that number is higher than a typical day before vacation.

Tim Hodges said he came to pick up his two children from school before the protests started because he heard rumors of a shootings and fights.

"I'm not going to take my chances with this," Hodges said.

The district had extra administrators and sheriff's deputies on and around campus to ensure student safety, and announced that students who walk home would be bused off campus and away from the protests.

Denhalter said he will attend the next Jurupa Unified School District Board meeting to ask for MEchA groups to be banned at all campuses.

The 17-year-old said he is a little apprehensive about returning to campus, but he was very happy with the protest -- even those who turned up to oppose him.

"I'm against what they stand for, but this is America, and they have free speech as well as I do. I actually shook a couple of their hands and said, `Thanks for coming out to voice your opinion,' " Denhalter said.


Amy Frye can be reached by e-mail at amy.frye@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9347.

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