For Immediate Release
March 30, 2006

Contact
Juan Elias, seventh grader
(510) 534-1151

Middle School Students in Oakland Walkout to Protest Immigration Laws

(Oakland, CA) This morning dozens of middle school students in east Oakland organized a walkout to protest H.R. 4437 and the new Senate bill in Congress. They are planning a strike that will be held after school on April 5, 2006.

The protest against the immigration laws was launched by three 7th grade students at the Melrose Leadership Academy. They are trying to make sure that H.R. 4437 does not get approved.

Juan Elias, a leader of the protest said. "The new laws would make immigrants into criminals." Manuel, Saul and Juan with other students want everyone to know that they do not want their families divided. Juan Elias added, "If you help an immigrant it will be a crime. We must stop this law." The others added that "The U.S. would not be be without us. We made America."

The planned protest will take place at the Melrose Leadership Academy from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on April 5, 2006.

There will be parents, kids, teachers, and speakers that organized the hunger strikes to help us learn more about what we can do.

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_________________________________________
Arnoldo Garcia
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Red Nacional Pro Derechos Inmigrantes y Refugiados
310 8th Street Suite 303
Oakland, CA 94607
Tel (510) 465-1984 ext. 305
Fax (510) 465-1885
http://www.nnirr.org