About 250 Turlock High students walked off campus around lunchtime Friday for a march to the city’s Central Park as part of a national effort to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Turlock High students left classes at noon and gathered across the street near the picnic tables in the southeast corner of Crane Park, where they made signs for their one-mile march downtown, with scores of cars honking their horns in support of the marchers.
“Most of the students left during lunch, so the overall disruption was minimal,” said THS Principal Dave Kline. “These students have a constitutional right to protest and we are going to support that right.”
Demonstrations took place across the country amid outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was shot multiple times after he used his cellphone to record Border Patrol officers conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The death heightened scrutiny over the administration’s tactics after the Jan. 7 death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot behind the wheel of her vehicle by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
“It’s important to come together and show that even though this is a really scary time, we’re not alone in this; and we’re not going to let people be alone in this,” said THS senior Halli Hakanson, who opted to miss school entirely. “We’re going to call people out and do our best to push for a safer future for everyone.”
In all, close to 1,800 Turlock Unified School District students were marked absent for the post-lunchtime period.
TUSD Superintendent David Lattig issued a statement, which read in part:
“Today, hundreds of TUSD secondary students chose to participate in a nationwide shutdown to protest recent immigration enforcement actions and related events… As a safety precaution, TUSD staff, in coordination with the Turlock Police Department, remained near the organized event, which both began and concluded at Crane Park. Our priority throughout the day was student safety. We recognize that today’s events have raised questions and differing opinions, including why the district allowed this to occur. While TUSD did not sponsor or endorse the protest, we do recognize and are obligated to uphold students’ rights to free speech, expression, and peaceful assembly under Board of Education policy and state and federal law.”
Turlock High recorded more than 800 students absent, while Pitman High reported more than 550 absences. Turlock Junior High and Dutcher Middle School recorded more than 400.
“As a child of an immigrant, I think it’s important to stand up for what America was built on …” said Fiona Beekman, whose mother immigrated from Northern Ireland. “We’re forced to deal with a generation of Boomers that has caused the mess that is killing people in our streets, I think it’s important to stand up and say, ‘f - - - that.’”
Pitman High’s campus in north Turlock is situated much farther from downtown than THS. Students there left school to support the walkout but had no centralized gathering spot.
“Our main concerns were where the students were going and would they get there safely,” said Pitman Principal Janine Arakelian. “We had our resource officer and our dean and some other staff keeping an eye on things and, thankfully, there were no problems.”
A pair of Turlock PD motorcycle patrol officers were positioned nearby the Turlock High event to make sure things remained orderly. Members of the non-profit Valley Improvement Projects, wearing fluorescent vests, were also on hand to help the neophyte activists maintain an orderly demonstration.
“We wanted to be there for the youth and help ensure their safety,” said Bianca Lopez, co-founder of VIP. “We didn’t attempt to control the message. They were able to articulate their reasons for being out there. Their messaging was en pointe. They weren’t there just to skip class.”
Turlock High junior Jennavieve Jewell, a member of the Turlock Youth Activists, organized Friday’s march. She spoke on a bullhorn at Crane Park, then again at Central Park.
“Protesting is the most American thing you can do,” said Jewell, who indicated later that she was amazed by the turnout. “We are here in solidarity with Minnesota. We are being terrorized by ICE. We are a community of immigrants. It’s not just an Hispanic issue. People should not have to feel fear here. They come from other countries to feel safe here.”
Jewell choked back tears during her speech at Central Park.
“My grandfather showed up today and that meant a lot to me,” said Jewell.
Her grandfather, Jorge Manriquez Hernandez, immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 1971 when he was 11 years old.
“I’m super proud of my granddaughter,” said Hernandez. “I’m proud she stands up for what she believes. I served 10 years in the Navy, and I did so she could do this.”
