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Phoenix-Area Students Walk Out Of Class To Protest End Of DACA
Published: Tuesday, September 5, 2017 - 6:00pm
Updated: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 - 7:30am
(Photo by Mariana Dale - KJZZ)
More than a hundred students converged on the Phoenix Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on Tuesday afternoon.
More than a hundred Phoenix-area students walked out of class on Tuesday to protest the announced end of a program that protects some immigrants from deportation.
Ylaria Romero left class at North High School to rally outside the Phoenix Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix.
“There’s students out here that just walk to walk to get out of school, but I’m here because I have friends and I want to support it and I want better for these people," Romero said.
The students at the rally, many from the Phoenix Union High School District, chanted, "when I say student, you say power, student, power, student power."
Romero says the principal at North High School spoke about DACA in an emotional schoolwide announcement. “She said we need to stand together and remember our peace and unity," Romero said.
Seventeen-year-old Annalyssia Pino says she left class in support of friends who are undocumented. “Some of my friends are too scared to come out here so I came out here to stand for them," Pino said.
Teachers and principals around the Valley were tasked with breaking the news to students. The Phoenix Union High School District said in a statement that it dispatched crisis management teams to each campus to help parents, students and staff cope with the announcement.
The district said in a statement: "As a result of this morning's DACA announcement, some of our students, alumni, parents, and staff are in crisis. Many others have friends, classmates, and family personally impacted by this decision. We are highly sensitive to this situation. We have mobilized our crisis management teams on each campus to provide for the social and emotional needs of our students and staff. We will provide opportunities for students to discuss these issues on campus in a very safe, loving environment. We continue to work with community organizations to provide accurate information and timely resources. Regardless of any change to law and policy, Phoenix Union will remain steadfast in its commitment to loving, serving, and educating ALL students, including DREAMers."
