"I was chilling with my friends who are all Latino... I assume the police believe that we cannot hangout with each other unless we are fighting because one cop surrounded us and called other cops to come. They searched us all and made us take off our shoes. One of the cops said, "I bet none of you has a green card" this statement provoked my friend and made him call the cop a pig and that's why the cops arrested him."-Latino, LA High, 9th grade

"I got a truancy ticket two years ago when I was in 7th grade. I ditched school that day. It was my first time and a group of us did it together. We were in an abandoned building when the police burst in and started screaming at us. We were handcuffed, and the police kept cussing at us. Then we were all put in the police car and brought to school where we got our tickets. My parents were called. I felt so bad at disappointing them and I was so scared. I know we were wrong for ditching, but why did they cuss so much at us? I dropped my keys during the whole thing and I never went back for them ‘cause I was so scared of the police seeing me there, even if it was after school. We went to court and I was told I could pay $50 and take a Saturday class, but I lost the paper for the class so I never went. I know it's on my record now, but I just don't want to ask my mom to miss another day of work to take me to court." -Latino, 9th grade, Manual Arts High School

"My sister and I were late for school after we decided to eat breakfast at McDonalds. When we were leaving two male police officers said that we were late for school and told us to meet them outside. Once we were outside, one police officer searched our purses and the other searched us. I was really shocked that I was being searched and I know that I could have said that I do not consent to the search but I was too afraid to tell the officers that. I still can't believe that two male officers searched us! They escorted both my sister and I to school in the police car and took us to the Dean's Office. The police officer asked for our names and then gave us tickets. I have not told my parents about these tickets because I want to have a life before I go to court, which is about a month from now... My parents cannot afford these tickets!" -Latina, 10th grade, Manual Arts High School