Hundreds of students rally despite objections

With an American flag draped over his shoulders, Bryan Leano, 15, joined hundreds of other students Friday at the federal building in a rally for immigrant rights.

"We're doing this for our country," said Leano, who attends the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science. "All Americans want the American dream."

Proposed legislation that would crack down on illegal immigration prompted Leano and hundreds of other high school and junior high students in Utah, and other states, to walk out of class this week for marches and rallies against laws that would crack down on illegal immigration.

Each day students rallied at their schools, and later in the week students marched miles to rallies at the state Capitol, the federal building and West Valley City Hall.

School administrators and Latino community activists urged the students to go back to class. They encouraged the youths to wait for a larger march and rally planned for April 9 and 10. But the students kept protesting, unconcerned about unexcused absences.

Kennedy Junior High student Santana Parea, 13, said he'd keep protesting "until there's justice."

Such peaceful rallies heighten the visibility of an issue, encouraging people to learn more about it, but they don't necessarily influence public opinion, said Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University.

"Sometimes the information people gain will make them more sympathetic, but that's not always the case," Patterson said. "Sometimes people just don't agree."

During the week's rallies, many students waved Mexican flags, and their chants included "Viva Mexico." That's something that activists against illegal immigration say is working in their favor.

Alex Segura, director of the anti-illegal immigration group Utah Minuteman Project, said he's gotten more calls in support of his cause than ever before during what he calls "blatant, in-your-face, we-want-rights" protests.

"People are fed up with foreigners coming in and demanding things, especially when they are here illegally," said Segura, who is running for a West Valley House seat.

Michael Clara, spokesman for the Utah Hispanic/Latino Legislative Task Force, said volunteers on Spanish TV and radio stations are encouraging youths to stay in school, and instead participate in the planned march and rally. The April 9 and 10 protests are planned to coincide with rallies nationwide as a way to hopefully influence Congress as the immigration debate continues.

"The kids we see marching today will be the voters of the future," Clara said.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com