In an uncommon e mail, San Antonio ISD requested dad and mom to discourage their youngsters from collaborating in an Oct. 7 scholar walkout, citing “credible proof” from native authorities that the occasion will probably be an armed protest.
The e-mail, shared with the Present by a involved father or mother, went out Thursday, Oct. 2, to SAISD households.
“We acquired details about college students presumably planning to protest on Tuesday, Oct. 7, throughout the college day, and we now have credible proof from space regulation enforcement that it will likely be an armed protest,” the e-mail learn.
The e-mail, signed by Superintendent Jaime Aquino together with different high-ranking officers, didn’t take a stance on the subject of the protest — nor was the subject said within the communication.
Nonetheless, the Specific-Information studies the demonstration is a pro-Palestine protest, held on the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israeli civilians.
The Specific-Information studies that scholar social media posts present the walkout is to name for an finish to the Israeli occupation of Gaza and an finish to america’ navy help of Israel.
The walkout additionally comes days after Israeli forces captured roughly 500 activists from all over the world as they tried to ship humanitarian assist through ships to Gaza, which is experiencing widespread famine beneath Israel’s blockade.
“Whereas we’re not taking a place on the subject of the protest, we should take a place on scholar and workers participation primarily based on the knowledge we now have acquired,” SAISD’s e mail mentioned. “The potential of this protest having armed members is extraordinarily regarding. We have now requested the Southwest Texas Fusion Heart, an inter-agency regulation enforcement heart, to observe this carefully.”
The e-mail additionally said that whereas SAISD doesn’t know the id of the protest’s organizers, authorities advised the district that these behind the motion “have impersonated a faculty group.”
The official communication additionally mentions that workers gained’t be current to guard college students because of the potential presence of firearms.
“Communicate along with your youngster to find out in the event that they plan to take part, and if that’s the case, we urge you to discourage participation primarily based on security issues,” the message mentioned. “Whereas we all know our college students and households perceive our dedication to peaceable protests, we can not management the actions of exterior members. Due to the point out of firearms, workers won’t escort college students; solely regulation enforcement will probably be current.”
The Present reached out to a number of officers at SAISD concerning the e mail however acquired no response by press time.
Mother and father expressed doubt concerning the true cause for the official communication from the district.
“The plan from the varsity — if the children don’t get scared off — is to place officers outdoors of the varsity to inform them they shouldn’t [participate],” one SAISD father or mother, who requested anonymity, advised the Present. “It appears 100% disingenuous, however I wouldn’t count on something lower than that from college management.”
In social media posts, different dad and mom expressed skepticism concerning the claims of an armed protest. Some even instructed the menace was fabricated to quash dissent.
“[SAISD] despatched out a totally disingenuous e mail final evening alluding to the specter of ‘armed protesters’ for what quantities to a peaceable march to the steps of metropolis corridor,” father or mother Mark Garcia posted on Fb. “When pressed on the difficulty they might provide no proof to help this declare outdoors of ‘we noticed an Instagram put up.’”
Garcia continued: “What an absolute shame. If we don’t encourage our youngsters to be actively engaged in upholding these basic American civil liberties we actually are headed for a bleak future. You don’t should agree with their trigger, however goddamnit do you wish to stay in a society so dumbed down and disposed that it has neither the capability to consider nor the inclination to combat for one of many bedrock rules of our nation?”
Whereas SAISD officers have been unavailable for remark, the San Antonio Police Division offered the next assertion when reached by the Present:
“The San Antonio Police Division is conscious of a deliberate protest scheduled for October seventh. We stay dedicated to defending the constitutional rights of people and teams to conduct peaceable and lawful demonstrations. SAPD may have a police presence for the protection of these peacefully protesting.”
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Organizers listing their calls for as “Preserve colleges protected, hold weapons out, hold ICE out.”
‘Please know that you simply’re not alone. We stand with you,’ the district advised dad and mom within the e mail.
The report commissioned by the district was launched simply 72 hours earlier than the board’s essential vote to shut campuses.
