Students Walk Out in Prop. 187 Protest

Seven middle and high schools in the San Fernando Valley reported Thursday that at least 1,100 students have left their campuses en masse to demonstrate their opposition to Proposition 187.

“This demonstration is like preaching to the choir,” said Philip Salvidar, principal at San Fernando High School, where 200 to 300 students left campus. Salvidar said the student body at San Fernando is clearly united against the proposition, which would deny health care and other services to illegal immigrants.

District officials suggested this week in a memo sent to all school principals that they should organize assemblies and open forum discussions on campus where students can express their views on the proposition to quell student walkouts.

Nevertheless, about 150 students from Mulholland Middle School, 100 from Madison Middle School, more than 100 from Sylmar High School, between 50 and 100 from Grant High School, 100 from Van Nuys Middle School and at least 400 from Chatsworth High School decided to leave school Thursday in protest.

Some schools, such as Reseda High School and Van Nuys High School, did hold assemblies for their students.

This morning, City Councilman John Ferraro is expected to speak at a student assembly at Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, and Chatsworth High School is hosting a football-field rally featuring speakers representing all races.