Lt. Governor candidate expresses sympathy for youth who killed himself after he was threatened by school for organizing an immigrant rights march
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
LOS ANGELES (April 14, 2006) - Green Party of California members, including the Greens' Lt. Governor candidate, expressed their deepest sympathy this week when hearing the news that an eighth-grade youth had committed suicide after he was threatened by school officials for helping organize a march against anti-immigrant legislation.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of 14-year-old Anthony Soltero, who was buried this week. His death is not only a loss to his family, but a loss to our fight for equality and fairness," said Donna Warren, the Green Party candidate for Lt. Governor.
Anthony shot himself in the head April 1 after he reportedly was told by the assistant principal at De Anza Middle School that he was going to prison for three years because he helped organize a school walk-out to protest heavy-handed federal legislation that would make felons of undocumented immigrants.
The school official also banned Anthony from attending his graduation, and threatened to fine his mother for his "truancy" and participation in the student demonstrations. Ironically, Anthony's civics class was focusing on civic duties and civil rights in his eighth grade class.
"Anthony was exactly the type of leader our society desperately needs to help lead us out of the unequal and disparate treatment our communities endure. If Anthony had lived, if our society had allowed him to live, he would have been a force the system could not defeat.
"Good night sweet prince, we will miss you," added Ms. Warren, an African-American woman raised in South Central Los Angeles, and a veteran of the civil rights movement.
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Contacts:
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916.996.9170,
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Dr. Bob Vizzard (Sacramento),
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Daniel Brezenoff (Southern California),
310.422.2211,
Susan King (San Francisco),
415.823.5524,
The Green Party of California
PO Box 2828
Sacramento, CA 95812
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