MIS NEIGHBORS

Young protestors joined crowds at this year’s May Day march in Downtown L.A.

It’s 8:30 on Sunday morning, and 28 Roosevelt High School Juniors gather in front of school, all in white t-shirts. Several hold signs. Others apply sunscreen. And one holds a loudspeaker. Noisy and oddly alert for a non-school day, they wait to hear their names as U.S. history teacher Mariana Ramirez calls roll.

Nine o’clock hits and they make their way to the metro Gold Line station at Soto St, headed for this year’s May Day march.

For the majority, today will be their first protest event where they will voice their opinions on immigration reform, equal rights and education cuts.

I’ve attended the May Day marches before, but never with such an energetic group. 

These kids were determined to speak out, but their journey wasn’t as smooth as expected.

As they got off the train in downtown, students were greeted by police officers who told them they weren’t allowed to bring sticks or large posters on metro rails. They reluctantly took their posters apart but still continued towards the crowd that gathered on Broadway and Olympic.

Watch their journey below.

Several students filmed and interviewed participants at the event as they became citizen journalists for a day. I will select a couple of student projects to feature on Mis Neighbors so look out for them in the next coming weeks.