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GUEST: Sonia Mercado, civil rights attorney representing the Soltero family

Mourners gathered at a church in Long Beach for the funeral of Anthony Soltero yesterday. The 14 year old student from Ontario had organized and participated in the March 28th school walkouts against HR4437. An 8th grader at, DeAnza Middle School, Soltero was reprimanded by the school’s vice principle and was told that he could be imprisoned for three years, barred from graduation ceremonies and his parents could be fined for truancy as a result of his involvement in the walkouts. Soltero committed suicide soon thereafter. An upcoming student march for immigrant rights will be dedicated to his memory.