Students Protest Against Immigration Legislation

Students from Crescenta Valley High School joined thousands of high school students across California who took to the streets protesting against the new immigration measures approved Monday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The six girls, five from CVHS, held up signs at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Foothill Boulevard asking passing motorists to honk if they are of latino heritage and showing their dislike of House Resolution 4437.

HR 4437 calls for a variety of steps to rein-in mass illegal immigration. The plan that was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, at a 12-to-6 vote, would allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship, while also tightening border security and enforcing existing bans on the hiring of undocumented workers. The legislation also imposes stiffer penalties on illegal immigrants. Illegal entry is considered a misdemeanor offense but would become a felony if the legislation becomes law. It also would mean illegal aliens could receive jail form immigration violations.

Julie Estrada, and Esther and Blanca Herrera left school to call attention to this new immigration legislation.

"I think it's important that we show our support," Estrada said.

Throughout the Glendale school district about 350 students protested. Glendale and Hoover High students marched to Glendale's city hall then to the school district office.

"We didn't have the trouble other areas had," Glendale Police Department Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The students protested in an orderly manner with the intent on getting their message out.

Glendale Unified School District Superintendent Michael Escalante met with the students and was proud of their behavior.

"Our kids were incredible. They left schools in an orderly manner, went to city hall and then came over to the district and then back to city hall," Escalante said. He added that police officers were prepared if anything went wrong but that there was no violence or confrontation. Escalante also praised police officers for their calm handling of the situation.

"They were escorted by the motor officers of Glendale PD, and those officers did not overreact or say anything [to the students]," he added.

The students in Glendale echoed the CVHS students who wanted to get the message out about HR447, and the rights of illegal immigrants.

Herrera was concerned about family and friends in the country illegally but who had jobs.