Students cited for truancy at immigrant-rights rally:Sabado, 04-15-2006

TEMECULA: The 28 Chaparral High teens' hands were bound in plastic restraints, not handcuffs, police said.

01:23 AM PDT on Saturday, April 15, 2006
By TAMMY McCOY
The Press-Enterprise

Related Video (at website, must register):
Immigration march by high school students on Rancho California Road

Truancy citations were handed out Friday to 28 Chaparral High students who were at an immigrant-rights rally along Rancho California Road during school hours .

"We are setting the tone that in Temecula the Police Department is not going to tolerate planned truancy," Capt. Mitch Alm said.

School resource officers heard Thursday about the possbility of a march and notified the school district, he said.

Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise (pix at website)
Teresa Gonzalez, left, reacts as Temecula police Officer David Bailey calls her parents after she was cited for truancy during a protest at Ronald Reagan Park in Temecula. A truancy citation carries a fine of up to $250.

The 28 teenagers who were cited sat on the curb of Rancho California Road near Moraga Road at about 9:15 a.m. while waiting for police to take them to Ronald Reagan Sports Park.

The students' hands were bound in plastic restraints, not handcuffs, police said.

Parents then were asked to pick up their children. Some parents refused to comment.

Reyna Sanchez said she supports her daughters' actions and recently took them to a similar march in San Diego County.

"They were just trying to protest," Sanchez said in Spanish, which was translated by her daughter, Ericka. "The police should have just taken them back to school."

Sanchez's other daughters, Maria and Jessica said they want people who come here from Mexico to have the same rights as American citizens.

"We are doing this for our family in Mexico," said Maria. "These people are coming here because they need money."

One of the 28 at the rally was a 19-year-old Chaparral High School student, said Sgt. Jim Adams.

He was arrested and booked on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Adams said.

Five other students were arrested near Oak High School after they left campus, Adams said.

A truancy citation carries a fine of up to $250, he said.

Danielle Clark, spokeswoman for the Temecula Valley Unified School District, said that district policy calls for Saturday school as punishment for students considered truant and will be recommending it.

Reach Tammy McCoy at (951) 375-3729 or tmccoy@PE.com
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