Posted on 03/30/2006 11:38:23 PM PST by beaversmom
Tensions over immigration reform heightened in the Phoenix area's East Valley Thursday when students raised a Mexican flag over Apache Junction High School — and then other students yanked it down and burned it. "I know (they) shouldn't have burned the Mexican flag," said Jacob Stewart, a 16-year-old sophomore. "I heard it was raised above the American flag and that just irked me."
He said the turbulence was tied to debates going on in the state Legislature and Congress, where ideas ranging from offering illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship to making them felons are being floated.
Freshman Chelsea Garcia, 15, and junior Brittany Ramage, 16, said the unrest had more to do with long-running racial tensions at the school.
The week's events might have sparked some anger, Ramage said, "but kids aren't too deep about that stuff."
The Hispanic student who brought the Mexican flag said he was responding to a remark directed at him Wednesday. The flag-raising, flag-burning, and shoving match that followed happened before most students arrived at school.
Six students — three Hispanic and three white — will be disciplined, Principal Chad Wilson said.
Officials with the Apache Junction Unified School District would not specify what punishment the six face.
Wilson did say in a letter sent home to parents that there would be "increased supervision, including additional police officers, on the campus over the next couple of days."
School flagpoles have been lightning rods across the country this week, including an incident in which a Houston high-school principal was disciplined after he flew a Mexican flag underneath his campus' U.S. and state flags.
A new political awareness among students has also been grabbing attention, as thousands have walked out on classes to join rallies in Phoenix and elsewhere. More than 100 students from Mesa's Carson Junior High and Westwood High schools marched in protest on Mesa streets Tuesday.
Time to fire up some popcorn - this is starting to get good ...
Burn, baby, burn!
:)
That a boy Jacob.
But burning the American flag is ok. After all, "kids aren't too deep about that stuff." Especially if their parents are leftist loons.
right on!
These mexican idiot children are doing some real damage to their cause. There mexican flags are starting to PO everyone.
Keep up idiots you losing all support
I tell you, it's a good thing my sons are all grown up and out of school. Except for the one who was killed in Nov. They'd be kicking serious ass right now of Mexican kids were waving their stinkin' flag in their faces.
God Bless you Jacob!!!
It is nice to have a story such as this to rally the troops together. I hope a counter movement happens, and fast!!
Kid's got some cojones!
I am glad that the Mexican flag was taken down and burned. It shouldn't have been above the American flag in the first place. The students who took the Mexican flag down and burned it deserve a gold medal for their act of courage. They had the guts to do something that most members of the Senate Judiciary Committee didn't have the guts to do---defend our country from illegal aliens. The students who burned the Mexican flag should not be suspended or expelled. The ones who put the Mexican flag up there should be expelled and deported immediately.
Just goes to show you that there are a few boys out there that haven't had the boy indoctrinated out of them.
BTTT
I'm so sorry, Nathan. I pray you have been given strength (somehow I think you have).
Sounds like you have some great sons! So sorry about the death of one of your sons this past year.
Officials with the Apache Junction Unified School District would not specify what punishment the six face.
I hope they are all expelled. Raising the Mexican flag above the school in the US is a very provocative act, but so is burning the Mexican flag in response. If no example is set, then violence could quickly break out.
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