VAN NUYS : Students Plan Walkathon to Fight Prop. 187

Latino students at Van Nuys High School are organizing a walkathon to raise funds to pay for cable television ads against Proposition 187.

Called “Students Defending Students,” the march and advertisement project is the brainchild of the high school’s MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano Aztlan) club, an organization for Latino and Chicano youth.

MEChA members are asking their fellow students to band together against Proposition 187 by getting people to sponsor them in the 10-K march slated for 11 a.m. Oct. 23. If approved by voters in November, the measure would deny public education, heath care and other services to undocumented residents.

At the same time, the Latino youngsters are taping and editing commercials that feature students discussing how they feel about Proposition 187. Airing the commercials on cable television will be paid for with the money collected from the walkathon.

“They have to realize that it’s not just adults (who will be affected). It’s starting with the kids and students,” said Jose Alberto Cardenas, 17, a MECha member who is active in Ballet Folklorico, a Latino folk dance troupe.

Regarding the commercials, he said, “This will make it more personal.”

On Club Day last week at Van Nuys High School, where the student population is about 65% Latino, about 300 students representing all races signed up for the march and to join MEChA. All the while, Veronica Gonzalez, 16, taped student reactions to the proposition with a video camera.

Veronica said that once she has compiled a series of interviews, she will edit them into advertisements in her television production class, part of the Performing Arts magnet program at Van Nuys.

MEChA sponsor and teacher Charles Wilken said the commercials will be aired through a cable company that reaches the East Valley area.

“Our main message to students is to not be afraid of what you’re all about,” said MEChA President Dennise Perez, 16. “I think it’s trying to isolate and classify them (illegal immigrants) like back in WWII. Then, it was Jews and non-Jews. Now, it’s legal and illegal.”

Perez said he has met with MEChA representatives from other schools through a San Fernando Valley-wide group called the Youth Committee, and has gained support for the Oct. 23 walk from schools such as San Fernando and Polytechnic high schools and Pacoima Middle School.