Students Walk Out Of Several EP Area Schools

EL PASO, TX. – On the heels of massive immigration protests in cities across the country, students from at least3 south-side El Paso high schools have staged a walkout.

Students from Riverside, Jefferson, Ysleta and Bowie high schools staged the walkout shortly before 2pm Wednesday afternoon. A group of 100 Riverside students walked back and forth between the Border Highway and Alemeda Avenue.

Jefferson High students began walking westward, toward the Bridge of the Americas shortly after 2:30pm. Reports into ABC-7 had that group of students meeting up with students from Bowie.

Once students met at the international bridge, and then the Chamizal park, the students gathered for a while and then disbursed. The entire protest was peaceful, with only one protester throwing a bottle at a park ranger.

In Ysleta, students from Ysleta high began walking out, prompting school district officials toput nearby Ysleta Middle school on lockdown until 3:45pm.

According to our ABC-7 cameraman, the group was attempting to meet up with a group of students from Del Valle in a march to the Zaragoza International Bridge.

As for the reason for the protest, one student told ABC-7 it was to honor her family’s sacrafice.

The student said, “I’m doing this for my grandma, really. Because she’s the one that slept in ditches for me to be here…. the one who covered herself with grass so she could keep warm. She’s the one who worked in houses for Americans so she could give life to my mother who gave life to me in America.”

Officials there say students will face being counted absent and tardy, but no extraordinary disciplinary action will be taken primarily because the protests there were very peaceful.