While thousands of students across Southern California joined marches protesting a proposed overhaul of national immigration policy, Santa Clarita high school campuses were quiet Friday, except for rallies and forums inside some of the schools.  At Canyon High, seven students spoke to a diverse audience of 80 about the affects of two proposed immigration bills being debated in Congress. One urged students not to march because they would be scapegoats. “If we march and leave school, we are playing into their hands,” said David Villegas. “I was mad (Monday) when students left and didn’t know why.” He asked why people are named Mexican-American or African-American when they have never been to Mexico or Africa. “We are human beings. We have the same liver, the same blood. What we need to change is our hearts,” Villegas said. Saying he has Puerto Rican, Mexican and African blood in him, 10th-grader Jose Cruz was also disturbed that students protested Monday without understanding why.

 

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