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.
I may be coming back in October!
What bothers me about these police not doing anything until those threatening are on property is that thy don't need to step foot on their property to do a drive-by.
Thank you for the updates. This is unbelievable. So now the kid's future military career is in jeopardy?
It's absolutely disgusting, Jay.
It's as if the American citizen, worker, ect...are the ones being discriminated against.
Not "if"...are.
The volcano that we've known about down here in the SW (especially in CA) for the last 30 years, has finally began to erupt. Our patience and temperance with the matter has let it go this far.
It's going to get worse, before it gets better.
Yep. The ROTC kids are clean-cut, smart, I'd dare say honest, and our future heroes and warriors. The protestor kids are flunkos getting Ds and Fs, extremely lazy and overfed (based on the interviews I heard in AZ where they could barely walk), and most likely sons and daughters of criminals who broke into the country.
Anything wrong with THAT picture?
YardHouse, Ruth's Chris here we come!!
Speaking of Ruth Chris, does anyone know if Hannity has talked about this incident yet?
I was listening to him today at work, he had some ranting anti-semite idiot on there.
I think we need to send him the link to this story. Anyone have his email?
I'll try to find it.
You're the one talking about apathy.
Not me.
I picture the Founding Fathers as "cool heads" who knew how to win a war.
Not these powerless, overly emotional flag burning mobs. Just like the frenzied toothless primitive faces we see in the streets burning effigies and flags in the Muslim world...they are weak and ineffective losers.
Again, if this is what you admire, then you are free to join them.
Just sent him the link to this story with the two updates.
Right. Not a thing they can do about it.
That kid, ROTC, has never ever been in trouble. And he's the one that spends the entire day in jail.
Those people need body guards now.
When Joe Crummy asked the father what his wife thought about all of this, he just said that she's been crying the entire time.
My heart goes out to them. I will pitch in for their defense fund. This is absolutely sickening. And I tell you what, that family's "neighbors" (here in the East Valley and environs) will not stand or put up with it.
It's going to get ugly.
Will do. I'll go to his website and track his email.
I sent it via his radio show e-mail. Maybe you can send it
via FOX as well so he'll have a better chance of getting it.
I'm sorry, but no dice, Senor.
Has Rush mentioned this at all? It's always good to get it out to as many as possible.
Also, I encouraged Sean to contact Joe Crummy at KFYI to verify the story of the family who is being threatened. (he's pretty friendly with our local radio station, wo we'll see what happens).
Good heads up Beaversmom!
Now, which one of you handsome guys out there in FReeperland want to contact Michelle Malkin?
Ping for news story and see posts #366, #372, #392. Is this something you can use on your radio program?
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