Students, Police Clash at Protest

A crowd of about 300 high school and college students clashed with police near Fullerton College on Thursday, when a demonstration demanding more Chicano studies classes in the schools turned violent, leaving several students slightly injured and leading to six arrests.

Police officers, some clad in riot gear, used pepper spray to quell the students, who had been using Mexican Independence Day observances as a symbolic springboard for their protest.

But the protesters decided to take to the streets near the school about 1:30 p.m. and blocked traffic on Lemon Street, police said. The students ignored orders from Fullerton officers to disperse, authorities said.

A short time later, 60 backup officers from neighboring police departments arrived to help Fullerton officers, who arrested six demonstrators considered to be the instigators of the disturbance, police said.

Fullerton police spokeswoman Sylvia Palmer Mudrick said the students, angry over the arrests, started yelling and threatening the officers. “Rather than use deadly force, our officers used pepper spray to control the situation,” she said.

The protesters said they were not looking for a confrontation and contend that they were only trying to follow the officers’ orders when they were attacked with chemical spray and batons.

“We were just marching by the street, and an army of policemen swarmed us,” said Rosa Romero, 19, a Fullerton College student. “They started macing people and hitting them with their sticks. I saw one girl get maced right in the eyes, and people were stepping on her.”

Several students, who were milling about after the police waded into their midst, had bloodstains on their clothing and were coughing and rubbing their eyes in reaction to the gas.

David Rojas, 21, said the students “made it clear we didn’t want any violence.”

“When we saw the police forming, we began to lock arms and march slowly,” he said. “One (police officer) tried to grab one of the guys, but we locked arms. They pulled so hard that several of us fell down, and they began macing us and hitting us with their sticks.”

Earlier in the day, about 270 students from Anaheim High School and Sonora High School in La Habra had staged a walkout aimed at highlighting the lack of Latino teachers at their schools and the absence of any classes on Chicano subjects.

The students marched to Fullerton College to join a rally commemorating Mexican Independence Day with ancient Aztec dances, music and speeches. Apparently, it was at the request of one speaker that a march be held around the streets near the campus.

Fullerton College Public Safety Officer Phil Montano said the event was orderly before the speeches.

“People were voicing their opinions and everything was fine,” Montano said. “The reason why this happened is they (the protesters) left the campus and blocked the street. It’s not because they’re Mexican.”

Fullerton College President Philip Borst said the melee took him by surprise. “Apparently our (Latino students) invited the high school kids to the college so they could see what it is like,” he said. “We had an orderly celebration.”

Times staff writers Terry Spencer, Mimi Ko, Jon Nalick and Greg Hernandez contributed to this story.