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100-plus Alvin students march on Pearland
Published March 30, 2006
ALVIN — About 150 students walked from Alvin High School toward Pearland on Wednesday morning to show their support for immigrants in response to Congress’ consideration of several immigration measures.
Students in Katy, Baytown, Galena Park and Houston also took to the streets during the third day of pro-immigrant rallies in Texas.
Immigration has become a national issue as the U.S. Senate debates legislation that would tighten border security while enabling illegal immigrants eventually to become citizens.
“We’re supporting our people,” said Martin Martinez, an 18-year-old Alvin High School student. “People are here working and they are people who have lived here and have family here.”
When Alvin students gathered outside the school before 7 a.m., about a half-hour before classes began, administrators thought the students would protest in front of the school, Principal Kevon Wells said.
“Then, about 150 students left the campus and my first impression was that they would walk the perimeter of the school,” Wells said. “My second impression was that they were going to City Hall, but then they continued past it.”
The students walked north along Johnson Street, made their way to Highway 35-B, then Gordon Street and proceeded north. At Wells’ request, several Alvin ISD and Alvin city police provided an escort to make sure the students were safe, Wells said. Buses were brought to the students at three locations between Alvin and Pearland to take the students back to school, he said.
More than half of the students were persuaded by Wells and school administrators to return to school, but about 40 students trekked another 10 miles, passing Pearland High School, Wells said.
“A large majority of the students were following and didn’t know what their goal was,” Wells said. “Some had general ideas about immigration but no one could tell me what they were trying to accomplish. We tried to tell them that nobody can hear them on Highway 35. We need to get them where the right people can hear them.”
While Wells said he does not approve of the students missing class and endangering themselves, he wants the students’ concerns heard and their questions answered, he said.
“This is not something we want to stifle them on,” Wells said. “We just want to get their voice heard by the right people.”
Mayor Andy Reyes agreed to speak to the student body at 10:30 a.m. today to answer questions and clear up any confusion students might have about the immigration bills Congress is considering.
Before the dismissal bells rang Wednesday, Wells met with six students who had participated in the rally. Together, they will formulate a plan and schedule for the forum with the mayor.
“Will we be able to get to the federal government? Probably not,” Wells told the students. “But if we talk to our local government, they can talk to the state and then they can speak to the federal government. The issue you have is not a school issue. It is a national issue. But I will do what I have to do to help you get your voice heard.”
Shaking their heads in agreement, the students admitted the march was not the best way to get answers to their questions. They were grateful to the principal for arranging an opportunity for them to speak to the mayor.
“It will probably be more successful than the protest,” Martinez said.
Wells told the students that if they have concerns in the future, they should speak with him first and he will arrange a way to get the students answers.
“We understand now that if we have a problem, we will come to you,” said Victor Elizondo, 18. “The first thing I told them this morning is, ‘Let’s go to City Hall instead of going to Pearland,’ but some of us continued, acting like immature kids.”
Students who participated in the rally and did not attend classes Wednesday are being considered truants and many will face in-school suspension, Alvin ISD spokeswoman Shirley Brothers said. Each truant student will receive punishment on a case-to-case basis, she said.
Seven Pearland High School students joined the Alvin student rally as the students passed the school, said Renea Ivy-Sims, spokeswoman for Pearland ISD. The students who left will receive unexcused absences and be disciplined, which could include in-school suspension. Several students who disrupted class by joining the Alvin students’ chants were removed from class and will receive in-school suspension, she said.
“Our students could see the Alvin students passing by our building and some students would not sit down and be quiet when teachers asked them to,” Ivy-Sims said. “We want our parents to know that our top priority is to make sure our students are safe.”
Congress is considering measures that would make it a crime to dispense aid to the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants, make illegal immigration a felony offense, add penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and build fences along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexican border.
The full U.S. Senate on Wednesday opened debate on a measure passed by its Judiciary Committee that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship. Any bill produced by the Senate would have to be reconciled with the House bill.
Lucretia Fernandez covers Alvin ISD for The Facts. Contact her at (979) 849-8581.
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