Arizona student walkout protest [VIDEO]

Approximately 200 high school and college students staged a walk-out to chant, march and rally in protest outside the Arizona State Senate building today. Their demonstration denounced proposed Arizona anti-immigrant legislation SB 1611, a bill that puts citizenship hurdles in place between students and public education.

The SB 1611 bill, explains Voto Latino, requires school officials to notify law enforcement when parents do not provide proof of legal status for children. It prohibits undocumented students from attending colleges or universities, even if they would pay out-of-state tuition fees. It mandates all companies to use E-Verify for workers. The bill would also make it a crime to drive while undocumented, requiring an automatic 30 day sentencing for conviction that required a judge to seize and sell the vehicle sending the profits to help balance the state budget.

The students walked out of their classes at 11:00 AM and headed to the Capitol to express concern about their access to education, in an action they reportedly orchestrated on social media sites. Many of the students bore signs that read: "We have rights" and "Education not deportation."

"What they're trying to do with SB 1611 is violate human rights," Ana--one 17-year-old protester--told the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. "We have a right to an education."

Democratic Senator Steve Gallardo of Phoenix, who was unaware that the students were going to organize the protest, nevertheless addressed the assembled student protesters [see video, top of post]

"This state legislature continues to introduce divisive legislation and now our students are scared, threatened and are taking desperate actions by walking out of class to march to the State Capitol," said Gallardo to KPHO news. "SB 1611 is unconstitutional and is nothing, but politicking. The Republican majority is wasting the voters' time with out-of-touch legislation that is not the priority of Arizonans who want quality education, work and health care for their families. This legislation does nothing, but scare our children and put them in dangerous situations."

The Legislature was not in session today. Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee narrowly endorsed the SB 1611 which was sponsored by Senate President Russell Pearce. The bill has yet to come before the full Senate.

Pearce championed SB 1070, Arizona's immigration enforcement law that set off a national controversy last year.