Students, teachers at L.A.'s Roosevelt High protest truancy ticketing policy [Updated]
About 50 rain-soaked students and teachers rallied Wednesday outside Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights to call for an end to the tardy and truancy ticketing policy.
Organizers said the system costs families hundreds of dollars and keeps students out of school.
Schools with large Latino populations, such as Roosevelt, have been unfairly targeted by police during early-morning sweeps near campuses, said Manuel Criollo of the Community Rights Campaign, which organized the rally.
He said students are issued tickets of about $250 for first-time offenders, $350 for second-time offenders and $900 for third-time offenders.
If offenders refuse or are unable to pay the fines, they could have their driver's licenses suspended. Many low-income students caught on their way to school are stuck with fines that are a burden to them and their families.
