“Si se Pue-de! Si se Pue-de!”
The old farm workers’ chant echoed through Jastro Park the morning of April 10 as Radio Campesina DJ Carlos Ortiz worked the crowd up. The park was a sea of colors, most being red, white and blue.
In addition to the majority of U.S. ensigns, there were many other countries’ flags represented: Mexican, Bolivian, Guatemalan, Spanish, in addition to the numerous small, red flags emblazoned with the United Farm Workers’ eagle.
Many local dignitaries gave the peaceful gathering, and the ensuing march, their blessing. Among them were Aturo Rodriguez, UFW president; humanitarian Dolores Huerta, and Gurujodha Khalsa, leader of the local Sikh faithful.
After the enthusiastic rally in the park, which city workers say was almost spotless afterward, the nearly 12,000 protesters lined up in groups of four and marched downtown.
This highly organized, and mostly adult, gathering was a matured evolution from the coordinated , yet partly uninformed walk-outs which took place at Kern County high schools two weeks earlier.
Students at Arvin High decided to take a stand against possible immigration laws the morning of March 29.
Gidalthi Gonzalez, 16, organized the walkout in which about 500 Arvin High students participated.
“We just walked out,” said Gonzalez. The group left school at 7:45 and marched from Arvin High to Lamont Park. He organized the walk-out by calling friends, saying he received some negative responses from those who felt the walk out would make “no difference,” and that “we [Mexicans] were always going to be poor.”
Julian Mosqueda, 15, participated in the walk-out because “everybody else did.” When asked why the march was going on, Mosqeuda responded, “I don’t know.”
Bakersfield College student Jesse Ibarra was at Lamont Park. According to Ibarra, the students were “representing thier parents” and that HR 4437 is “racist…against humaity and God.”
Maricela Azuncion, along with other parents, provided lunch for the students. According to Azuncion, the parents brought enough food for 500 students.
Rhandy Turman of the California Highway Patrol stated that “traffic was the only issue,” during the protest, and he felt that the CHP did a “pretty good job” by blocking traffic to ensure the prottesters weren’t in danger.
BC MEChA president Enrique Martinez said that he “didn’t mind the walkouts,” and that the walk-outs are an “eye opener.” However, he felt that “some kids don’t know what it is and just ditch class.” Martinez has read ” a little bit ” of the proposition and commented that “It’s all politics.”
Another notable walkout occurred in Shafter on March 29th. Approxamately 300 students from Shafter High School walked out of classes and marched through the agricultural community’s downtown and residential neighborhoods.
The Shafter walk-out was marked by a skirmish with the Shafter Police at the intersection of Central Avenue and James Street. Protesters were ordered by police to remove themselves from the street, “for their own safety” and to “clear the road for motorists” said Police Chief John Zrofsky.
Joey Hinogosa, 15, was handcuffed, and later released by officers for failing to clear the street in time.
The student marchers were outraged at the arrest, and began to throw water bottles at the police officers.
15-year old Corina Ortega was seized by Zrofsky, and according to student witnesses, roughly thrown against a police SUV and then onto the ground.
Zrofsky maintained that the reports of police brutality were heresay. He added that his “concern was for their safety.”
As with the Arvin walk out, many students were not able to answer why they were walking out. Moises Obeso, 16, commented that “Shafter is very racist,” and felt that was reason enough to walk out.
Others had fully formed opinions on why it was important to walk out of class. Daisy Verdugo, 16, said that “this is what school would be like with all the Mexicans gone.” Alicia Martinez, 15, said that “what would white people do without Mexicans? It would be empty.” Her friend Juana Ruelas enthusiastically added “Mexican’s Rule!”
The walk-out ended with peaceful plotting for further demonstrations in Mannel Park. A smaller group of Shafter students marched to neighboring Wasco on Friday the 31st.