Students Angry Over Principal’s Actions

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila

EL PASO, Texas – Some Hanks High school studentstold ABC-7they were denied mourning the death of their friend by the school principal. Signs made by students were posted throughout the halls of Hanks High school about a memorial for 15 year-old Vanessa Marquez who was killed in a car crash this past weekend. But those signs were taken down.

“I saw them in the hallway and I thought it was a very good thing. Like, it was people coming together to help a student,”Hanks student Susan Elliott said.

Some students said they’re very upset and don’t understand why their principal took down the signs announcing a memorial for one of their own.

“I guess they don’t look at students as people here they look at them as money,”saidSusan Elliott, another angry student.

Some of Marquez’s friendssaid they wanted to honor her memory with an evening memorial at the sight of the crash.

“We made the flyers, we posted them up,” said Vanessa’s friendAdam Garcia. “About30 minutes later an announcement went on…they wanted to tear down the posters and said it wasn’t going to be safe and that they didn’t want the students to go to the memorial.”

Ysleta school district officials said they agree with principal Louis Martinez’s decision to remove the signs. Martinez said he was concerned for the safety of students attending a late-night memorial, at a dark, unsafe intersection. He also said he did not feel it was appropriate for the school to appear to be promoting the event.

Students said the signs had a positive message.

“That she was a good friend, a companion…and that we really needed to cherish life here at Hanks, we need to cherish our students,” Susan Elliott, Vanessa’s friend said.

Principal Martinez did allow for a memorial at lunch on Monday.