The Ranger Online

Issue date: 5/18/06 Section: Urban Journalism Workshop

Media Credit: Torrie Bethany Marlene Tejeda, 17, a Taft High School graduate, organized a protest against proposed immigration laws at Taft's flagpole.

With her ruby red lips, charcoal black eyeliner, septum piercing, neon orange nails and 5-inch platform shoes, Marlene Tejeda does not look like the typical high school student involved with immigration issues, or any typical high school student.

Tejeda is passionate about fighting immigration reforms; she even organized a meeting at Taft High School to discuss immigration issues with her peers.

Along with the Taft group, students at Fox Tech Law Magnet and Lanier high schools organized meetings and protests. A group of about a hundred students from Lanier staged a walkout, while students at Fox Tech participated in rallies after school hours.

Walkouts around the city April 3 were in progress. Tejeda had been trying to organize people to walk out of Taft along with many other high school students around San Antonio.

"In the morning of the mass walkouts, the principal thought I was trying to get people to walk out, which I was," Tejeda said. "But I was really just trying to get some discussion going on."

Taft Principal Tommy Garcia pre-empted a walkout by offering Tejeda the option of organizing a forum for all students, instead of students risking suspension or ticketing by walking out. The forum was held a couple of days later in front of the school before classes started so as not to disrupt class.

"After talking to Marlene, I knew she had done her homework and wasn't just trying to get out of class," Garcia said. "I think that a lot of the kids that went did benefit. They were given information they didn't know before the forum."

Although distantly related to the South Side political family, Tejeda has not always been politically charged.

She said she really got involved in politics in middle school.

"I became really (politically) involved in eighth grade because of 9-11 and how could they have not seen that coming," said Tejeda. "Then I watched (Michael Moore's documentary) 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' and oh, man."

Tejeda first became informed about immigration acts and laws by watching CNN. When she heard that a bill that would make being an illegal immigrant punishable by law passed through the House of Representatives, Tejeda became active in getting her voice heard.

The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition Web site reports that an estimated 3 million children who are U.S. citizens could lose their parents to arrest and deportation if the bill were to become law.

The bill and what it could lead to surprised and upset Tejeda, who believes it was completely wrong and unreasonable. Tejeda felt that she needed to do something about it.

"It really hit home. I am not illegal or anything, and none of my family is," Tejeda said. "What really angered me was all the racism towards Mexicans. It angers me deeply. I just felt I had to do something."

Tejeda has gotten backlash from close friends with opposing opinions for her activism against immigration reforms.

"One of my friends totally disagreed with me and feels that if (immigrants) are in the country illegally, they don't have any rights," she said. "But you have to listen to everything every one has to say so you can prepare yourself."

News reports showed students admitting that they were participating in walkouts without knowing what they were protesting and using it as a way to get out of school. What Tejeda was working toward was informing anyone and everyone.

"Kids just trying to get out of class dilutes the purpose and message. It just makes everyone look bad," Tejeda said. "But a lot of people had lots of questions. Some people even teared up. It really moved them."

To organize a meeting involving more than 100 people is not something one person easily can do alone. Tejeda mentioned she had friends helping with fliers and even said how she had to sit on one of her friend's shoulders so she could talk to everyone.

Tejeda's efforts aren't ending with her high school career. She wants to pursue a career in political science and government, possibly even law. She even mentioned wanting to be elected to the House of Representatives.

"I am really passionate. I just want to help my people, or any people. It just really boils me when good, hard-working people get taken advantage of," Tejeda said.

The Fox Tech Law Magnet School students participated in some of the rallies.

These students were led by Maricela Lazarin and Sandra Morales, social studies teachers at Fox Tech.

"We had done what none of the other high schools did: We did it after school," said Lazarin. "We organized and did it out of school and didn't disrupt class and the curriculum."

While Tejeda did not go to any of her teachers for advice on how to act on the issue, Lazarin's students came to her asking for help and how to go about the situation effectively. The students gained support and permission from administrators to organize meetings and later participate in marches downtown.

"The kids came up with the idea, and I just gave them hints to make sure they represent a legitimate issue," said Lazarin.

"They decided to do it after school and had meetings in front of the amphitheater. They prepared for two weeks. They were serious."

All participants of these forums and rallies said their goal is to be heard by the government and actually make a difference.

"In general, students are powerless and without money, and they will not be listened to," said political science Professor Bill Byerly at San Antonio College. "People who have a great deal of effect on the system have power and money."

Byerly mentioned the civil rights movements and the Vietnam War protests but doesn't see anything of that magnitude happening now. Although he does recognize these high school student efforts, he does not believe they are big enough to cause anyone to notice them.

"Students would have to rise up in vast numbers, and outnumber the police, and really know the issue specifically. I think then they might be heard," he said. "I am proud that they are getting involved. I wish they would protest more."

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