Subject: Fw: Rally tomorrow against Deportation of high school students in San Diego!
dear compañera/os,
yesterday morning, as one of my 16
year old female students waited at the Old Town trolley station to go to school,
she was approached by border patrol agents and asked for "papers" - she showed
them her school ID and explained that she was on her way to school, but she was
continually harassed and asked questions about her "status" here in the
U.S. . . . having called her parents during the exchange with officers,
her uncle (U.S. citizen) immediately went to the trolley station and explained
to officers that his niece was only 16, on her way to school, and he would take
her from there, HOWEVER, because she was "unable to provide proper
documentation", she was detained by the border patrol officers (with
several other people, including other minors) and taken to the Otay
holding station . .
as soon as myself and her parents got wind of what
had happened we contacted local advocacy groups who then contacted the Mexican
consulate, and we were hopeful that the consulate and their lawyers could get
custody of the student because of her age, and for the way she was unlawfully
questioned for identification at a public transit station . . .
additionally, several community members (teachers, principals, community
activists, etc.)
immediately wrote numerous letters attesting to this
student's character, her academic excellence, and how she is revered both
at her school and in her community.
despite all of this, the student was
deported to Tijuana within 6 hours of detainment - a place where she knows no
one, had no money and no resources . . .
i don't think enough people are
aware that this is happening. and i also don't believe that anyone who now knows
that this kind of indiscriminate "rounding up" of our children is happening, can
stand by and do nothing. i will not stand by and allow my students' basic human
rights to be violated - our children especially should not be subjected to the
fascist operations/interrogations of local "law enforcement" and i ask that you
join me tomorrow, along with the American Friends Service Committee, to protest
these actions. . . .
i have included the flyer/information about the
events that will happen tomorrow:
1) a press conference at
11 am
to denounce the racial profiling, raids and subsequent deportation of
students
2) a rally/demonstration at
5 pm to protest the
interrogation and deportation of our students - rally to take place at the
trolley administration building at
12th and Imperial i thank you
in advance for your support and participation - please disseminate this
information widely,
in solidarity,