Prop. 187 sparks campus protest
Marchers call ‘Save Our State’ initiative racist
say marchers
By Brett Tam
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Rattling penny-filled soda cans and blasting ear-piercing
whistles, a crowd of almost 200 marched up Bruin Walk toting
bullhorns and signs to protest Proposition 187, an anti-illegal
immigration initiative on the November ballot that has recently
fueled much heated debate.
The rally was sponsored by community groups and a coalition of
student organizations such as MEChA and the undergraduate external
vice president’s office.
The initiative, dubbed "Save Our State," would ban illegal
immigrants from receiving public education, social services and
non-emergency health care. It would also affect anyone applying for
such services if the public facility suspects the person of being
an illegal immigrant.
"I was kind of surprised it was even a proposition," said Jenny
Lin, a third-year economics student who just happened to catch the
protesters at the Bruin Bear as they were gearing up for the march
around campus. Lin added that the initiative was an attempt to
discriminate against minorities such as Latinos and Asians.
If Proposition 187 is passed, all students who are illegal
immigrants would be forced out of California’s public schools.
"Just think about all the students that will be kicked out of
high school. What are they going to do?" asked fourth-year history
student Carlos Valle. "They’re not going to have an education.
They’re going to be on the streets."
Valle, who plans to be a high school history teacher, said the
initiative  which would require public school teachers to
report any student they suspect of being an illegal immigrant
 would transform the classroom into a police state.
"A teacher’s job is to educate, not to police the school," he
said.
Because the initiative would allow some publicly-funded
facilities to refuse services to anyone they "reasonably suspect"
of being an illegal immigrant, many protesters said the initiative
would unfairly persecute people of color, since they would be easy
targets.
"My parents, they’re citizens, but they don’t speak English.
What happens when the police stop them?" asked Jose Rangel, a
third-year economics student. He added that they could be denied
social services because they might not have the language ability or
proper papers on hand to defend themselves if questioned.
Perhaps the most sticky point of Proposition 187, critics say,
is that the initiative does not specify by what criteria teachers,
health care workers and social service employees may judge possible
illegal immigrants.
A person’s skin color or accent may be enough to suspect
someone, Rangel explained.
"We’re the main ones that are probably going to get it," he
said.
As the marchers paused briefly outside of the North Campus
eatery to chant their protest, many people sitting at tables eating
lunch seemed taken aback by the noise.
Marytza Mendizabal, who had been reading a newspaper when the
marchers appeared, was shaking her head after the protesters moved
on.
"If people are legal residents, we have no problem with them
coming over our borders," the fourth-year political science student
said. "If they’re going to go over and steal our jobs, it’s wrong.
It’s not racism. It’s the law."
"Our state is sinking," agreed third-year sociology student
Miles Hamburg, who was sitting with Mendizabal. "And you’ve got to
do what you’ve got to do."
Many of the initiative’s opponents have said the proposition is
racist, but Mendizabal disagreed.
"I’m half-Peruvian and half-Mexican. There’s no way I could be
racist," said Mendizabal, who added that her parents legally
entered the country, and that others should do the same.
The protesters walked to Chancellor Charles Young’s office
demanding to know his position on the initiative. Young, however,
was not at UCLA, according to Lyle Timmerman, acting assistant vice
chancellor for student life. Afterward, the protesters stopped at
the grassy area in front of Schoenberg Hall, where a teach-in
ensued.
For Lin, who did not join the march but picked up a flyer
instead, the protest made her think twice about voting in
November.
"I wasn’t planning to (vote)," she admitted. "But maybe I will
now."