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Hundreds of Houston area students are walking out of school in protest of an immigration bill going through Congress. Houston Independent School District officials are asking students to find other ways to demonstrate. As Houston Public Radio’s Laurie Johnson reports, the students who cut class face serious disciplinary action.
Over the past few days more than 1,000 students have walked out of school and taken to the streets. Hundreds of them assembled downtown outside City Hall. Others walked down freeways and main thoroughfares waving Mexican flags. HISD Superintendent Dr. Abe Saavedra says every American has the right to protest, but no student has the right to do it during school time.
“That should occur before school, should occur after school, should occur in the evenings, should occur on weekends but it should not occur during the school day.”
The district issued 67 citations today to students who cut class. More than 1,000 students will receive suspensions, some could be suspended for the rest of the school year. Today, Houston Police officers also arrested 30 students for breaking curfew and one 19-year-old student for hindering traffic.
“And those efforts will have to continue until our — our young students understand that they must remain in school.”
The district also disciplined the principle of Reagan High School for flying a Mexico flag from the school’s flag pole. Saavedra did praise the student body at Lamar High School for holding a rally before school hours this morning. He says he is excited about the students’ enthusiasm and wants to make sure it’s aimed in the right direction. Laurie Johnson Houston Public Radio News.
