WPCNR The Immigrant News. May 1, 2006. UPDATED May 2, 2006, 9:45 A.M. E.D.T. UPDATED May 3, 2006, 10:45 A.M. E.D.T.: The National Day of Immigrant Demonstrations for Citizenship  in White Plains began with a march of approximately 200 students from White Plains High School down Bryant Avenue and up Mamaroneck Avenue to Renaissance Plaza Fountain Monday.

Contrary to what high school students who signed up previously for the national day of demonstration for immigrants' rights have said to promote participation in the march their absence was not condoned by the high school administration.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors told WPCNR Wednesday the children who left the high school to attend the march were not excused from school. Their absences were noted and marked "an unexcused absence." Connors said the students were not assigned detention for cutting school to attend the March. He said that depending on the number of unexcused absences each child had in each class, it  eventually could effect their academic grade.  

 The large protest group, joined by the high school students in mid-morning,  gathered in the morning and chanted all day at the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street where a crowd estimated by White Plains Police to be about 200 persons  with the number of demonstrators dwindling to about 60 persons by 3:30 P.M. By 5 P.M., the demonstration had disbanded. White Plains Police estimate the crowd at both the student march and the Fountain demonstration to be about 200 for each event.

Hispanic and Latino Demonstrators at Mamaroneck and Main, 3:30 P.M. Photo, WPCNR News.

Signs Read: "We Are Not Criminals," and "Everyone Deserves a Chance at the American Dream," The last hours of the Immigrants Day protest Monday in White Plains. Photo, WPCNR News.