And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their world
Are immune to your consultations
They’re re quite aware of what they’re going through
— David Bowie, “Changes,” from the album Hunky Dory
By KRISTEL FOSTER
TUCSON, AZ — Arizona is making international news. At the moment it’s known for something besides the Grand Canyon: we have a new law legalizing, indeed, requiring racial profiling. The state government has just banned ethnic studies classes in our classrooms. Orders have been given from our Department of Education to remove teachers with heavy accents. The famous immigration law passed here also requires schools next year to report citizenship status of their students, essentially turning educators into immigration officials. And next there’s word of challenging the 14th Amendment, taking away citizenship of children born on Arizona soil if their parents don’t have the right papers.
So, what’s a pueblo to do? It’s an overwhelming battle against these extremist politicians and their personal agendas. Who will lead us in the fight? Who will take charge for change? Our town has its share of activist organizations, fine established groups that dutifully inform the public and diligently fight the fight. And we have our fare share of politicians, the majority of whom have been very, very quiet. But these past weeks, there’s been a new face at the forefront of the march.
The protest movements began when the bill banning ethnic studies arrived on the governor’s desk. Students organized a sit-in. Following in the footsteps of those they had read about in their history books, they planned a 24-hour human chain, wrapping their high school outside in an all night candlelight vigil. I spent some time with them that night. These kids are strong and smart, focused and fearless.
Five days later, at the last hour, the governor signed the act into law, banning them from class, prohibiting them these studies that represent the line for so many between poverty and success, as 80% of the students who participate in these classes go on to college, compared to the national average of 25%.
The personal is political in Arizona. Tucson Unified School District has the only ethnic studies program in our nation’s public schools, and our State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne, has had a personal vendetta against them for years.
Unfair immigration laws have been written during the course of his tenure, but in the past always vetoed by our former Governor Janet Napolitano. When he promoted her to the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Obama opened a window for these attacks to become law.
Mr. Horne himself planned to visit the very next day.
Hundreds and hundreds of middle school and high school students left their classrooms and marched to the district office to confront Horne, asking him to address them, the kids who his actions would directly affect. They used text messages, twitter and other social communication tools, organized their walk out, and were followed by members of the community, who joined students in the street.
Once again, they formed a human wall around the building and energetically chanted together, “Education, not a crime! Education, not a crime!” Horne didn’t enter, the meeting was postponed, redirected to the Arizona Department of Education in the center of town. Word got out and the march continued.
Horne talked to the media inside, behind closed doors, on the second floor of the federal building. I was sitting with the students outside. One young lady declared , “We’re always here on this corner, and they pay no attention. It’s time we storm the building.” Her teacher looked at me and said, “I guess we’re going in.” They stayed for hours, with no response and were told the building would close at 5 pm, and they would be arrested if they stayed after that. The students stayed; arrests were made, four of them of minors.
And what now? The world is listening. Local media, national media, international media — all eyes are open. These kids have sparked movement. Days later national representatives of the DREAM Act staged a sit-in inside John McCain’s Tucson office, followed by others in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Indigenous people and their supporters stormed Border Patrol Headquarters at Davis Monthan Air Force Base. Columnists are writing in The New York Times the Huffington Post and thousands of blogs. First Ladies, news pundits and politicians are talking.
Students have taken leadership.
Another important facebook page is the “Save Ethnic Studies in Arizona” These kids are mobilized and so technologically savvy, so many posts, videos, artistic responses. They make a teacher proud!
Thank you, Kristel, for this urgent story, and thank you, Eric, for posting it. As a former Tucsonan and Latina, I am heartsick for the state I called home for nearly 8 years. At the same time, my heart is bursting with pride for these courageous student warriors. For those of you who use Facebook, please visit the Facebook group Poets Responding to SB 1070, created by University of California-Davis Chicano Studies Professor and poet Francisco X. Alarcon, where thousands have gathered to share poetry, art and news regarding the recent collection of racist Arizona laws. What gives me hope today, in addition to these protestors, are these words by poet Hedy Trevino: “The ancient journeys, passages and visions will guide us through the fire to bring in a new day, for a new nation has risen. Float like a feather ghost dancer, we are here.”
Today’s urban students have no fear of repercussion from authority. Most authority is emasculated anyway. Budget cuts everywhere may see similar pattern for parallel interests (students who want a path to the future via public school) and in empathy to this one.
We have not spoken. Looks like our children will.