On Monday, some 36,000 students from 25 Los Angeles County school districts walked out of class, officials said, with more than 1,000 protesting outside City Hall for much of the day. The youths tied up streets and even made dangerous forays onto freeways to loudly protest against legislation that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants, and build fences along part of the U.S.-Mexican border.Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised the students' action, but also urged them to return to school.
“I want you to know that there are people right now all across the country that agree with you that we need immigration reform that rewards work, that gives people a pathway to citizenship, that allows families to stay together,” Villaraigosa told the crowd.
California state Sen. Richard Alarcon speaks to students gathered near the Van Nuys Federal Building Monday to protest proposed immigration reforms. Authorities reported that more than 36,000 students from Los Angeles County schools walked out of class to join in protest marches. Other protests were reported across the state and in Washington, Phoenix, Detroit and Yakima, Wash.