First-Person Account
Students Unite to Protest Recent Immigration Bill
By: Elizabeth Ortiz and Danny Hickle (April 4, 2006)

Lasso Online reporters Beth Ortiz and Dan Hickle took part in Thursday’s march in favor of more humane immigration bills. Herewith is their account.

It was 9:05AM on Thursday March 30, 2006. Nutrition break had just begun and everyone was still just getting themselves together for the school day ahead. It was at this time when several George Mason High School students of all ages and backgrounds gathered in the cafeteria. The students had planned a walk-out along with several other high schools in the area, in protest against the immigration reform bills under consideration in Capitol Hill. They were acting in support of immigration and immigrant rights.    

Mason students walked out to Shreve Road unsure how they were to meet up with other high schools at Wilson Blvd, which is about 3 miles from GMHS. This mild confusion was not to be the end of the GM students’ journey. While the students marched down Wilson Blvd. towards Ballston Commons, police started to escort the students because the number of young protestors had quadrupled since the departure of the Mason students. When the students arrived at Ballston Commons Metro Center they merged into a huge crowd of students from many other Arlington High Schools. More police quickly arrived to help the demonstrating students down to the Arlington Court House, because by that time they numbered nearly 2,000.

Chanting “Si Se Puede” and “Latinos Unidos,” the students passed new construction in Ballston Commons and several business establishments through Ballston Commons, Clarendon and Court House.  As they walked, the protesters attracted much onlooker support. When the students finally made it to Arlington Court House, almost nine miles from GMHS, they rallied together in a friendly demonstration supporting the Latino community and their rights. The point of the rally was to show that laws concerning illegal immigration don’t only affect immigrants, but their families, neighbors and the economy in general.