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L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa Talks About Schools, Student Protesters and Race

New America Media, Q&A, Carolyn Goossen and Daffodil Altan, Apr 05, 2006

Editor's Note: Antonio Villaraigosa took a few moments to talk with NAM about last week's massive student walkouts, the state of the Los Angeles Unified School District -- which he plans to take over -- and the future of the immigrant rights movement in Los Angeles. Villaraigosa spoke with Carolyn Goossen and Daffodil Altan.

You've talked about holding teachers, administrators and parents accountable. What about students?

When those kids came [to city hall] on Monday -- -- I understood their fears and concerns. I walked out 30 years ago (in protests) and everyone knows that. I had a great deal of respect for their courage and conviction for walking out in opposition to immigration proposals that would make their parents felons. I also said, 'I expect you back in school now.'

Everyone has a responsibility here. What you have when no one is accountable is chaos. I think what we need in the school district is for everyone know their rights and their responsibilities; parents need to know their rights and their responsibilities. We've got to develop a culture with our kids where we say, 'This is your responsibility.'

On Saturday I was criticized by the right because I greeted 500,000 peaceably marching people at City Hall, and on Tuesday I was criticized by activists saying 'You walked out, why are you telling these kids to go to school?' I said, 'Your responsibility is to be in school.'

I met with seven student leaders [after the walkouts]. They told me why they walked out. They were phenomenal. They were the most articulate kids. One of them said, 'Are we going to get in trouble?' I said, 'What do you think? Probably.' I said I got in trouble too and they said, you're right, and I was really proud of that.

Were the mass student walkouts part of a moment or the beginning of a movement?

I don't think the moment has passed. I think these young people are undergoing a transformation. I think they are realizing that in a great and good America founded on democratic principles, civic action is the key to change.

I told these kids, 'Now If you want to walk out after school, on Saturday and Sunday, you can do that. There's a right way and a wrong way. In a school district where half of us are failing, you can't miss five or six days. We can't allow that. We can't have you fail. We need you to be educated, so you can be great spokespeople for your community.'

I dropped out [of high school], but then I went back. I realized that education is an empowering process that will give you the skills you need to truly be more civic minded.

All the activists criticized me on Monday. I got on the radio and talked to the parents. Twenty-six thousand kids marched on Monday, 11,000 on Tuesday, and 75 on Wednesday. Parents want their kids in school. That's why they came here, for their kids to get an education.

What about the allegations of racial tension among Black and Latino LAUSD students?

When I went to Jefferson High School (scene of fights between black and Latino students in April and May 2005), everyone was saying [the problem] was racial. It wasn't racial. These kids were packed in there like sardines. When I walked in, there were parents banging down doors and the principal wouldn't open the door, there were kids putting graffiti all over the walls. Kids were segregated and put into separate classrooms. Blacks were in one classroom, Latinos in another. Teachers were in shorts, thongs and T-shirts. I told the principal, you need to meet with the parents. I said to the teachers, I want to clean this place up. You know what I did? I took control.

I'm a progressive, make no mistake about it, but I'm not for chaos. I'm not for the culture of complacency that we've seen in these schools.