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SAISD claims to have received information from authorities that student demonstration will be an \u201carmed protest\u201d Credit: San Antonio ISD | Facebook<\/p>\nSAISD claims to have received information from authorities that student demonstration will be an \u201carmed protest\u201d Credit: San Antonio ISD | Facebook<\/p>\n
In an unusual email, San Antonio ISD asked parents to discourage their children from participating in an Oct. 7 student walkout, citing \u201ccredible evidence\u201d from local authorities that the event will be an armed protest. <\/p>\n
The email, shared with the Current by a concerned parent, went out Thursday, Oct. 2, to SAISD families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe received information about students possibly planning to protest on Tuesday, Oct. 7, during the school day, and we have credible evidence from area law enforcement that it will be an armed protest,\u201d the email read.<\/p>\n
The email, signed by Superintendent Jaime Aquino along with other high-ranking officials, didn\u2019t take a stance on the topic of the protest \u2014 nor was the topic stated in the communication.<\/p>\n
However, the Express-News reports the demonstration is a pro-Palestine protest, held on the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.<\/p>\n
The Express-News reports that student social media posts show the walkout is to call for an end to the Israeli occupation of Gaza and an end to the United States\u2019 military support of Israel.<\/p>\n
The walkout also comes days after Israeli forces captured approximately 500 activists from around the world as they attempted to deliver humanitarian aid via ships to Gaza, which is experiencing widespread famine under Israel\u2019s blockade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we are not taking a position on the topic of the protest, we must take a position on student and staff participation based on the information we have received,\u201d SAISD\u2019s email said. \u201cThe potential of this protest having armed participants is extremely concerning. We have requested the Southwest Texas Fusion Center, an inter-agency law enforcement center, to monitor this closely.\u201d<\/p>\n
The email also stated that while SAISD does not know the identity of the protest\u2019s organizers, authorities told the district that those behind the action \u201chave impersonated a school organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
The official communication also mentions that staff won\u2019t be present to protect students due to the potential presence of firearms.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeak with your child to determine if they plan to participate, and if so, we urge you to discourage participation based on safety concerns,\u201d the message said. \u201cWhile we know our students and families understand our commitment to peaceful protests, we cannot control the actions of external participants. Because of the mention of firearms, staff will not escort students; only law enforcement will be present.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Current reached out to several officials at SAISD about the email but received no response by press time.<\/p>\n
Parents expressed doubt about the true reason for the official communication from the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plan from the school \u2014\u00a0if the kids don\u2019t get scared off \u2014\u00a0is to put officers outside of the school to tell them they shouldn\u2019t [participate],\u201d one SAISD parent, who requested anonymity, told the Current. \u201cIt seems 100% disingenuous, but I wouldn\u2019t expect anything less than that from school leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n
In social media posts, other parents expressed skepticism about the claims of an armed protest. Some even suggested the threat was fabricated to quash dissent.<\/p>\n
\u201c[SAISD] sent out a completely disingenuous email last night alluding to the threat of \u2018armed protesters\u2019 for what amounts to a peaceful march to the steps of city hall,\u201d parent Mark Garcia posted on Facebook. \u201cWhen pressed on the issue they could offer no evidence to support this claim outside of \u2018we saw an Instagram post.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Garcia continued: \u201cWhat an absolute disgrace. If we do not encourage our children to be actively engaged in upholding these fundamental American civil liberties we truly are headed for a bleak future. You don\u2019t have to agree with their cause, but goddamnit do you want to live in a society so dumbed down and disposed that it has neither the capacity to think about nor the inclination to fight for one of the bedrock principles of our nation?\u201d<\/p>\n
While SAISD officials were unavailable for comment, the San Antonio Police Department provided the following statement when reached by the Current:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe San Antonio Police Department is aware of a planned protest scheduled for October 7th. We remain committed to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals and groups to conduct peaceful and lawful demonstrations. SAPD will have a police presence for the safety of those peacefully protesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
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