MPS immigration rights rally; teacher gets support
MPS immigration rights rally
Families and friends of an MPS teacher rallied to support her after she said she was suspended for providing resources to families who potentially face deportation.
MILWAUKEE - Families and friends of a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher rallied to support her after she said she was suspended for providing resources to families potentially facing deportation.
What we know:
Parents, activists, and community leaders were chanting and holding up posters with messages to stand in solidarity with Alondra Garcia, a bilingual second grade teacher at the school.
Garcia said she was suspended from class for a day without compensation because she was providing information about immigration resources available to families potentially facing deportation.
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Chants from dozens of supporters echoed off the wall outside Allen-Field Elementary School on Wednesday morning, Jan. 29.
What they're saying:
Garcia said she is facing retaliation from the school principal for providing this information after he refused to implement the SafeHaven Campaign that provides immigration support on campus for students and staff.
"I'm feeling empowered that the community showed up and are speaking about this," Garcia said. "There’s a number of resources in the SafeHaven resolution page that's provided by MPS. Those were the resources. I did not go against policy. I did not violate anything; I was simply sharing those resources that are simply found on the MPS website."
Dig deeper:
Marcela Garcia is a MPS Board Director and while she did not comment on the personnel matter, she said MPS’ priority is to ensure that families know what their protections are for their safety and wellbeing.
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"I've been listening to a lot of the concerns that are being brought specifically around student safety," she said. "Specifically around immigration and these are topics that have been critical."
What's next:
Garcia said she is currently waiting to hear a final verdict in her case.
Voces de La Frontera will be holding a meeting at 1p.m. on Saturday for Allen-Field Elementary School parents at their Mitchell Street office.
The Source: FOX6 News attended the rally.