Police Handle Reports Of Vandalism
Residents Concerned Over Student Prostests

POSTED: 7:48 pm MST March 31, 2006

March 31, 2006 -- KFOX spoke with El Paso Police Chief Richard Wiles. He says Friday was the largest turnout of student protesters, with more than 4,100 throughout El Paso walking out of class. Chief Wiles confirms they did have several reports of vandalism but he says they were minimal. However for El Pasoans, even one incident was just too much.

"I could hear them splashing the car with something until all of a sudden then I heard the rock come through the window," said Leila McClendon. She had to have her back car window replaced. It was broken and she was shaken, after she encountered one mob of student protesters Friday in Northeast El Paso. She says they were belligerent with the public.

At a Diamond Shamrock in East El Paso, another incident. Store surveillance video shows kids trickling in to the store, then within a matter of seconds dozens of kids start flowing in. Then the students are seen quickly moving out. Store managers say many took merchandise.

"They started tossing things around. I guess they got scared or getting rowdy," said Yoli Nakashima, Diamond Shamrock store manager.

At police headquarters, law enforcement has been keeping track. For the last three days they've been monitoring protesters and say incidents have been minimal. Chief Wiles says when you're dealing with so many kids, you have to consider everyone's rights.

"Many times it's a balancing act between the rights of the protesters to assemble and speak versus the rights of other citizens who are trying to use roadways," said Wiles.

Although there was no major criminal element, Chief Wiles says the school districts must take action now. "Should they pay for missing school? Absolutely.. they need to be held accountable. The school districts need to take action," the Chief told KFOX.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/8395469/deta ... 32006&ts=H

This same page has several videos of the trouble in el Paso, Tx with student walk outs. I don't knwo why they wait three days to show it but apprarently they needed to edit out a lot of footage. After all, the public shouldn't know what REALLY happened, should they? And this is the BEST of the stations for actual coverage in this area.