Raul Nido
Template:TOCnestleft Raul Nido has been the principal of Sunnyside High School, Arizona, since 1990.
Student "immigration" marchers
While the national fervor over illegal immigration polarizes the country, the offspring of the debated are taking to the streets.
And so it was in Tucson March 29, 2006, when hundreds of students walked out of their high schools with a message of “hear me” or at least “see me.”
“They wanted to keep us silent,” said 15-year-old David Encinas, who scaled the 8-foot fence at Cholla High School after school officials locked the gates, hoping to avert the walkout. “We pushed through because we have a voice and we just wanted to be heard.”
More than 300 students from Cholla and Pueblo high schools marched toward Border Patrol headquarters at 1970 W. Ajo Way and then downtown in a seven-mile march that began during the noon hour.
At Sunnyside High School, administrators and student organizers were able to shepherd about 600 students into the auditorium to discuss the purpose of the protest and march.
Asked how the students organized so quickly, Ray Siqueiros, a Sunnyside social studies teacher, said, “It’s called technology. It’s called text messaging. It’s called myspace.com.”
Students at Cholla and Pueblo coordinated their march within a matter of minutes during lunch by calling and text messaging each other on their cell phones, they said.
Sunnyside Principal Raul Nido said he wanted to work with the students, not contain them.
“If you know what the cause is and you’re passionate about it, then tell me why,” Nido said. “If you don’t know what you’re doing then you’re being led. This is a very hot issue.”
Students said they were appreciative.
“I expected them to try and stop us, but instead they’re encouraging us,” said Alex Gonzalez, 17, a junior and Sunnyside student body vice president. “They understand where we’re coming from.”
“This is our chance to show that Sunnyside is not a bunch of gangbangers, that we really care about what’s going on in this world,” David Caiz, a 19-year-old senior, told the protesters. “We’re all students of this world and we have to take care of each other. If I’m going to get arrested for giving water to my people, then I’m going to jail.”
The Sunnyside students circled the school’s neighborhood before returning to campus.
Ray Siqueiros, of Sí Se Puede, a group that organizes the annual Cesar Chavez rally, was pleased at the peaceful nature of the day and optimistic the community will rally behind the students.
“Leave it to our kids to show us how it’s done,” he said. “It’s in tradition with Cesar Chavez. His spirit is alive and well in Tucson. The community, the parents and the school should be very proud of the students.”[1]
Eva Carrillo Dong reception with communists
On Wednesday, 15 September 2010, a reception in support of Eva Carrillo Dong was held Rigo's Mexican Restaurant 2527 South 4th Avenue Tucson, AZ.
Key attendess included Salvador Barajas, Sunnyside School Board Member Magdalena Barajas, Rolande Baker, Joe Bernick, Mary Carmen Donaldson, Hon. Dan Eckstrom, County Supervisor Richard Elias, Tucson City Council Member Richard Fimbres, TUSD Board Member Adelita Grijalva, James Hannley, Rigoberto Lopez, Raul Nido, Laura Portillo, Manuel E. Portillo, Tucson City Council Member Regina Romero, Albert Siqueiros, Janet Valencia and Steve Valencia. Baker, Bernick, Hannley and both Valencias were all affiliated with the Arizona District Communist Party USA.[2]