STUDENTS SHOULD KNEEL IN PROTEST

BISD ADMINISTRATION: "At this time we would rather that our students express their support at another venue. Although sometimes things can start off peaceful with good intentions in mind, these events have a tendency to get out of hand and cause disruption. I so agree that everyone has worked extremely hard to get to this point. Our district has gone to great lengths of planning to receive approval from the county and city for this graduation. We do not want anything to go wrong. I will encourage you and your child to display your support for minorities at a different time. Thank-you for your understanding. Lopez ECHS has always been fortunate to have great ceremonies for our students. Let's continue this tradition."

(EDITOR'S NOTE: For Superintendent Dr. Rene Gutierrez and Lopez Principal Dahlia Aguilar appearances are more important than reality. They don't want Lopez students kneeling during graduation protesting Trump's remarks about their own people: "They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists." They don't want Lopez students kneeling during graduation protesting the war in Afghanistan where a disproportionate number of Mexican-Americans have lost their lives for no reason at all. They don't want Lopez students kneeling during graduation protesting armed white cops murdering unarmed black men. Lopez students should drop to their knees as a result of the manner in which they are perceived in Brownsville, an image perpetrated by Gutierrez and Aguilar who reduce their charges to robots rather than elevating them to a first-class status. In the mind of the BISD, Lopez students represent the Third World. And like a Banana Republic dictator, Aguilar exerts her power and control by depriving them of their most fundamental rights: She demands that they remain quiet while corrupt leaders allow turmoil and chaos to consume our country. Lopez students should protest because they are tired of being considered the worst high school in Brownsville. Lopez students should protest because they are tired of being considered the worst students in Brownsville. Just like the victims of racist police officers lie dead in the streets, Lopez students are demeaned by their own community. In the minds of the school district's detractors, Lopez students epitomize ignorance. And Gutierrez and Aguilar want to keep them that way. They tell them don't sympathize with minorities. Are Lopez students supposed to look in the mirror and convince themselves that they are Anglos? They are commanded to refrain from freely expressing themselves because the situation may deteriorate. NFL football players kneel regularly and their protests against racism haven't prevented the opening kickoff to take place on time. The administration doesn't want anything to go wrong. Valedictorians have been delivering blistering speeches against injustices for decades in this nation and their denunciations haven't resulted in disorderly commencements. Unlike the walls of Jericho, Sams Stadium didn't fall when the Rivera senior class president took a knee. The $1.4 million scoreboard didn't collapse when Hanna students followed her example a few nights later. Gutierrez and Aguilar will pay lip service to free speech, but save it for when you're showering or shitting or playing in the waves at SPI. Gutierrez and Aguilar want Lopez students to maintain their "tradition" of keeping their mouths shut. Who gives a damn if a demented and sadistic pig is beating your brother to death in La Posada!!! Shut the fuck up, pendejo! Here's your diploma, you pinche cagapalo! Now go back to Mexico where you belong, you worthless mamón!)